You love spending quality time together, so any opportunity to make fun memories together—yes, please!

Find out whether your valentine likes to be surprised or would prefer to be in on the date planning; then, start brainstorming! There are tons of fun first Valentine's Day ideas. If you get stuck when planning the perfect date, we want to help! We've collected many memorable ideas for your first Valentine's Day together.

Traditional First Valentine's Day Date Ideas

Making new traditions is one of the sweetest things to do with your new date. But, since you're still getting to know each other, you may feel unsure about what they'd enjoy the most. The best way to find out is to ask them, but if they aren't sure, a traditional romantic date will do the trick!

If you need help deciding what to do, try a traditional romantic idea—and look for ways to add a personal touch.

Go out for a fancy dinner together. Ask what fancy restaurant they love and make reservations well in advance. Dressing up, sharing a fancy bottle of wine, and chatting in a beautiful setting is always memorable and exciting.

Spend the weekend away. Plan a getaway at a fancy hotel or bed and breakfast. Order room service, sneak in early to sprinkle some rose petals on the bed, and pack a special card and gift.

Go to a romantic spot & exchange gifts. Whether in a restaurant, a beautiful overlook, or a park, you can enjoy each other's company in a lovely setting.

Adventurous First Valentine's Day Date Ideas

If you're an adventurous couple, you'll enjoy something less traditional to get your adrenaline pumping. What's romantic to one couple may be boring to you, so plan an outdoorsy adventure or try something new:

Take a hike! Visit a local trail you enjoy, or drive a little farther to a beautiful location for Valentine's Day. Do your research to find the best trails, lodging, and restaurants—and check their seasonal availability.

Do something that scares you (both). What do you both want to learn how to do or try—from salt water float therapy to ballroom dancing? Trying something new is a great bonding experience, and you can lend each other some courage.

Go skydiving—indoor or outdoor. Maybe you've tried it before, but they haven't (or vice versa). Isn't skydiving on almost everyone's adventure bucket list? Take the first leap together!

"Foodie" First Valentine's Day Date Ideas

It's what drew you together in the first place—besides your actual attraction to each other. You both love food, and there's no getting around that fact. If you’re both self-proclaimed culinary critics, anything food-related will be the best date idea to celebrate your first Valentine's Day together.

Take a cooking class together. Choose a class where you can learn to cook something you both enjoy eating. You can find local in-person cooking classes or virtual ones, but either way, it's an enjoyable (and delicious) bonding experience.

Host a wine & cheese tasting. This one can be just for the two of you, or you can invite some of your favorite couples. Gather a combination of new and favored wines, cheeses, and the food lovers in your life to host a fun & romantic event.

Try an exotic new cuisine (or restaurant). Discover a new ethnic restaurant in your area, or plan a trip to an exotic eatery together.

Low-Key First Valentine's Day Date Ideas

If your relationship is super-new and you want to do something more under the radar this February, opt for one of these more casual date ideas.

Order takeout & watch a movie at home. DoorDash your favorite restaurant & choose a movie from your favorite streaming service to enjoy. The possibilities are endless, whether you want to Netflix and chill or Disney+ and de-stress.

Go to a movie. If there's a movie you both want to see (or you want to treat your date to the infamous Valentine's Day chick flick), grab some movie tickets. Find a theater that also serves dinner & enjoy a super low-key evening together.

Cook them a fancy dinner at your place. Those three sweet words: I'll cook tonight. (Especially if you're a good cook!) Your love will love to relinquish menu planning & cooking for tonight and relax together. Bonus: they don't even have to clean up their apartment this time.

Romantic First Valentine's Day Date Ideas

The most romantic first Valentine's Day dates blend silly, sweet, and sexy moments. So, if you want to up the ante, find a way to combine playful and endearing moments that will fan the flame of your love.

Enjoy a romantic game together. Purchase a fun card game for couples—some focus on getting to know each other more, and others are more adventurous bedroom games.

Two words: couples' massage. Hit the spa together and experience a couple's massage. Try to find a hotel with a spa package so you can enjoy some calming, romantic time together—and you don't have to hurry home!

Play with puppies at the SPCA. And maybe adopt one? If your S.O. loves animals, visit the animal shelter to play with the dogs or cats. (Just be prepared to potentially bring a new pet home.)

Source: lovepop.com

Screening is an essential part of finding a great tenant. You can begin the screening process immediately, as soon as a prospective tenant calls to let you know they saw your listing and is interested in the rental. In fact, you can even start the screening process before ever having someone lay eyes on your property listing.

Below are a few tips to follow when pre-screening your prospective tenants:

1. Set the Requirements to Your Standards

Simply setting the rent price will screen out applicants who know they cannot afford your property. Additionally, if you list out your other requirements such as a rental application, credit report, and criminal history check, you’ll turn off the prospects that know they wouldn’t pass your tests.

2. Ask How Many People Will be Living in the Unit

When you are on the phone, you’ll also be able to ask about who will be living in the rental, how long they expect to rent, etc.

There’s no need to show the place if the prospects are four people trying to rent your one-bedroom (most states have a law that says you cannot have more than two people per bedroom) or if they’re only looking for a short term rental and you don’t offer that.

Here are additional questions you should ask your prospective tenant.

1. What’s Your Desired Move in Date?

Tenants begin their apartment search at various times of the year, depending on when their existing lease ends. Before getting into the details of the apartment, it’s important to first establish when they’re looking to move in by.

The reason why is because some tenants can be looking several months in advance to see what’s available and aren’t planning on moving right away, which is something to consider if you’re looking to fill the property as soon as possible.

2. Why Are You Moving?

Although most tenants are simply moving due to not wanting to renew their existing lease, it’s still a great question to ask to better understand their reasoning for moving. Their response can help you gauge if they’re moving for a negative reason — such as being evicted from a property — or if they’re moving to a different location due to a new job.

As a safety measure, you can write down their answers to then compare with what previous landlords share when being asked about their experience with the tenant.

3. Do You Have Pets?

It’s not uncommon for a tenant to own a pet when renting out a property. Prior to looking for tenants, you should determine if you want to allow pets on your property.

If you decided you don’t, then this is a question you’ll want to ask any prospective tenant to ensure no animals enter the premises. On the other hand, if pets are allowed, then you can then ask what type of animal they own, the breed, and any important behavioral issues to be aware of.

4. What Is Your Monthly Income?

The industry standard is typically two to three times the set rent price. Learning more about your tenant’s monthly income can help you determine if they meet your requirements or need a guarantor in order to get approved. You can also request a credit report to better understand an applicant’s financial health and see if they have a strong history of making on-time payments.

5. Can You Provide Landlord and Employer References?

Tenants that have previously rented more than one property should have a landlord reference to provide on a rental application. For first-time tenants, they can provide a personal or credit reference to share information on how they treat other people and their overall reliability.

There may be instances where tenants are unable to provide any references, and if that’s the case, then you can either move forward with other applicants or provide other suggestions you’re willing to accept.

6. How Many People Will be Living in the Apartment?

To avoid dealing with squatters — which are unauthorized tenants in a rental property — you’ll want to know whether or not more than one person will be living in the property. If so, you’ll need to individually screen each tenant that’s listed as a co-signer on the rental application.

This will also be important when collecting rent payments, the security deposit fee, and any other fees since it’ll need to be split between each tenant on the final lease agreement.

7. Do You Smoke?

Smoke of any kind can cause extensive damage to a rental property, all of which can be expensive to fix. As the landlord, you are allowed to implement a no smoking policy, but it’s advised to provide tenants with alternative spots where it is allowed. This can be a backyard or certain feet away from the building.

Asking this question gives you an opportunity to remind any prospective tenant of your policy to ensure no one smokes in your property during the lease term.

8. Are You Okay With Paying an Application Fee?

When screening tenants with Avail, either the landlord or the prospective tenant can cover the $55 fee for the credit, criminal, and eviction report add-ons. Although this is a normal part of the renting process, it’s important to know if they’re okay with covering it. An application fee will also filter out tenants that are serious about renting your property.

9. Are You Looking for a 12-Month Lease Agreement?

There are different types of lease agreements, such as an annual agreement, a month-to-month agreement, or one that ends on a custom date set by the landlord. Ideally, you’ll want a tenant looking to sign a lease agreement with a 12-month lease term. However, if you come across someone looking to sign a shorter lease or prefer a rent-to-own agreement, then this can be something to discuss more in-depth.

3. Pay Close Attention to Their Questions

Let your prospects ask their questions during the phone interview. First, you’ll find out what’s important to them and can make sure to show off the areas of your rental that highlight their wants.

Second, you can figure out whether their priorities are in line with yours. If they’re asking about the location of the closest bars and you’re concerned about noise violations, this might not be a good fit.

Create a Rental Application

If you’ve gone this far with your prospective tenant, you should always allow them to submit a rental application, even if you know they won’t work out. You don’t want it to appear that you’re discriminating and at this point, you’ll want to allow everyone that you’ve already shown the property to go through your usual screening process.

Source: avail.co

Every vehicle should have an emergency supply kit in the trunk. Kits should be checked every six months, and expired items should be replaced regularly. Vehicle emergency supply kits should include:

• A properly inflated spare tire, wheel wrench and tripod jack
• Jumper cables
• Tool kit and/or a multipurpose utility tool
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Reflective triangles and brightly colored cloth to make your vehicle more visible
• Compass
• First aid kit with gauze, tape, bandages, antibiotic ointment, aspirin, a blanket, nonlatex gloves, scissors, hydrocortisone, thermometer, tweezers and instant cold compress
• Nonperishable, high-energy foods, such as unsalted nuts, dried fruits and hard candy
• Drinking water
• Reflective vest in case you need to walk to get help
• Car charger for your cell phone
• Fire extinguisher
• Duct tape
• Rain poncho
• Snow brush
• Shovel
• Windshield washer fluid
• Warm clothing
• Cat litter for traction
• Blankets

It's also a good idea to keep family and emergency phone numbers, including your auto insurance provider and a towing company, in your phone.

Source: NSC.org

Being a new parent can be an exciting time, but what about your vehicle? Did you consider that you will need to childproof each vehicle to ensure your children’s safety while on the open road? And what does childproofing a vehicle even look like?

USE THE RIGHT CAR SEAT FOR YOUR CHILD

Not only should children under the age of 13 sit in the back seat at all times, but you should also ensure that they are securely fastened in the appropriate car seat, depending on their age, height, and weight.

Here are some guidelines to follow:

From birth until ages 2 to 4: When your child is a baby, you should use a rear-facing car seat, which should be placed in the middle seat of the back seat. The middle seat is the safest position for a car seat. Children should be placed in rear-facing car seats with a harness until they reach the car seat’s maximum height or weight limit.

Until 5 or 6 years old: Once your child has outgrown their first car seat, they should be securely fastened into a seat that’s now forward-facing. The seat should come with a harness, and you can use this car seat until your child reaches the maximum height or weight limit of the seat.

Until 9 to 12 years old: After they have outgrown the front-facing car seat, they are ready for a booster seat. Your child should be securely fastened into a booster seat until the vehicle’s seat belt fits properly. Proper seat belt fit typically occurs when children are between 9 to 12, depending on their size.

ACTIVATE CHILD LOCKS h3

Imagine taking your child on their first camping trip to get them off their screens and into the wilderness, and they suddenly open the door as you are cruising down the freeway at 70 miles per hour. This is an incredibly dangerous and scary scenario that can easily be prevented by making sure the child locks on your back passenger doors are activated.

Activating the child locks in your vehicle is easy. Simply open both rear passenger doors and find the metal toggle switches that turn the child locks on and off and flip them on.

LOCK WINDOWS

Arriving at your destination does not have to be the only goal of traveling. It’s an incredible way for your kids to learn about the joy of the journey. It’s time spent together, fun playing games, and experiencing beautiful scenery along the way; however, do it safely. Always keep the passenger windows locked. Most vehicles have a window lock button on the window control panel on the driver’s side front door.

Ensure the window lock button is pushed in to prevent your child from opening the windows on their own and hanging their head or limbs out the window. Also, keeping the windows closed can help prevent rocks or other debris from flying into the car and striking your child.

SECURE UNUSED SEAT BELTS

Unsecured seat belts could pose a strangulation hazard to your child if left unbuckled. Before starting the car, you should secure all unused seatbelts by buckling in the belt, slowly pulling the shoulder strap out, and slowly releasing it until you hear a clicking sound. The clicking sound means that the retractor is in the locked position and will remain tight enough that your child will be unable to pull on the belt.

SECURE ALL ITEMS IN YOUR VEHICLE

Any item not secured in your vehicle could become a dangerous projectile in the event of a car crash. Sports equipment, toys, tools, and essentially anything heavy or hard could potentially become dangerous if you are in an accident, hit a speed bump, or take a corner too fast. Protect your child by putting all heavy and hard items in the trunk of your car or the back of your truck, van, or SUV or by ensuring that the items are properly secured.

CONDUCT REGULAR CAR SAFETY CHECKS

It’s crucial to check the safety of your car at regular intervals, especially if you’re often traveling with children. Your tires are what keep your car on the road, so proper tire maintenance is essential. Check tire pressure regularly and ensure tires have enough tread for better control.

Also, don’t forget the brakes. These should be checked every six months to ensure the brake pads aren’t worn out.

Source: safesearchkids.com

There are things you can do to keep your gas expenses down. Among them:

Use a gas station app or website. Smartphone apps, such as those from GasBuddy, AAA, and Gas Guru, are particularly convenient when you’re traveling and away from your computer. They’re available for Apple and Android devices. Many are free. You can filter results by fuel grade and sort by distance and price, as well as get GPS-guided directions to the station you choose.

GasBuddy and Fuel Finder also let you check stations for amenities such as ATMs, restaurants, and car washes. GasBuddy has station reviews, which might tell you, for instance, which restrooms to avoid. And Gas Guru lets you save your favorite stations, so you can remember where to stop on your way back.

The Google Maps and Waze apps, which many people use for real-time traffic alerts and driving directions, also offer gas-price info.

You’re likely to find that you may be able to get a better deal at stations that are not located on major highways. Of course, making a big detour to pay less might not make sense.

Check the prices in the different states you’ll visit. Prices can vary significantly among states, often because of differences in state gas taxes.

Think about how best to pay. Some stations offer a lower price if you pay with cash instead of a credit card. The difference between the cash and credit price usually ranges from around 10 to 15 cents per gallon though he adds that it can be as much as a dollar.

Another option is to pay with a cash-back credit card. While the credit card price may be higher than the cash price, the reward you receive could make using the credit card a better deal.

If you plan to pay by debit card, don’t assume that you are getting the cash price. Some stations could charge you the credit card rate instead. Check the posted prices at the pump. Selecting the debit option and entering a pin when you pump your gas is often a good indication that your transaction will be handled as cash.

Slow down. It may sound silly, but with prices being as high as they are, it’s a good idea to keep your foot out of the accelerator pedal. Around town, that means reducing your rate of acceleration, and on the highway, keeping your speed below 75 mph, above which he says wind resistance eats into your fuel economy. Reducing your speed to 65 on the highway can increase fuel economy by as much as 15 to 20 percent.

Check your tire pressure. Making sure your car’s tires are properly inflated to the pressure indicated on the sticker inside the driver’s door will make it run more efficiently.

Reduce the number of car trips. If you can avoid traveling by car, either by walking, taking public transportation, or staying home, you’ll save money at the pump. If you do have to drive somewhere, try to bundle errands and appointments so you don’t have to make multiple trips and use more fuel.

Source: consumerreports.org

There are tax deductions you can take as a rideshare driver. The truth is, insurance and phone mounts only scratch the surface. You can also write off gas, parking fees, car payments, and more. (Check out our list of tax deductions for rideshare drivers to make sure you’re not missing any!)

To actually take all those deductions, you’ll have to keep track of your car expenses. The IRS requires you to keep records for when you file your Uber taxes. And in any case, tracking all your deductions will make sure you don’t miss any.

Not the recordkeeping type? Don’t worry — apps like Keeper can automatically scan your purchases for qualified deductions, so you don’t need to keep a spreadsheet or hoard receipts.

If your small business uses cars for deliveries, transporting passengers or if you want to brand your vehicle with a company logo, it might make sense to purchase and register a vehicle in your business' name. Company cars could also give you more control over things like GPS tracking, driving policies and more. Some companies choose to use mileage reimbursement instead of purchasing company cars, but when the upfront investment is worth it for your business, it pays to know the ins and outs of the registration process.

Business and insurance basic

In order to title a vehicle in your company's name, you will need to produce articles of incorporation and show that your business is a legitimate organization. If you are a gig-worker who has not officially registered your business, this is your first step. You might also need an EIN number, credit profile and an official bank account for your business, depending on how you intend to pay fees.

Your small business will need to provide proof of insurance as part of the registration process for your state's department of motor vehicles. Car insurance is different for businesses, and is often more costly, so contact your insurance agent to find out about pricing and set this up in advance. Once you purchase the vehicle, your agent will need to know the make, model, VIN, odometer reading and more in order to add the vehicle to your policy.

Transferring your personal vehicle

Transferring your personal vehicle to your small business is often less involved than buying a car from a third party because you will be able to sign both the seller and buyer portions of the registration paperwork. However, if you still owe money on the vehicle that you plan to transfer to your business, you will need to contact your lender for the appropriate paperwork that could allow your business to take over the payments instead of you. Some lenders might require you to pay off the vehicle before a transfer can occur.

Buying a car for your business

If you purchase a car for your business from an individual, arrange to meet them at your local registrar's office to complete the paperwork together. This will give both parties peace of mind in knowing everything is done by the books. If you purchase the vehicle through a dealership, they often have individuals or departments that specialize in commercial sales and have all the right paperwork set aside in advance. Should your business obtain a loan to finance a vehicle, keep in mind that the lender's name will be listed on the title and not your business's name. Paperwork, fees and the dmv

The paperwork and fees required to register a business vehicle vary slightly from state to state. In any state, be prepared to offer proof of insurance, as well as identification for you and your business.

Because requirements vary by location, contact your local department of motor vehicles in order to determine which forms to fill out and what your business needs to budget for fees.

Source: bizfluent.com

With days below freezing fast approaching, you may need to de-ice your concrete walkways, sidewalks, stairs, and driveways. Here are some ways to do it.

Rock Salt

Rock salt (also known as sodium chloride) is one of the most widely used deicing chemicals. It is inexpensive, easy to get, and works well (for temperatures above 15°F). Here in Texas, we may not have bags of it on-hand for de-icing. You can use table salt in a pinch, but it’s less effective than rock salt. If you can’t get rock salt, sprinkle a thin layer of table salt over the area you want to de-ice. The chemical reaction between the salt and the water results in heat, melting the ice.

Salt shouldn’t be your long-term solution for melting ice, because it can damage your lawn, erode your concrete, and cause animals to get sick! But in a pinch, it will do!

Calcium Chloride

Calcium Chloride granules or powder is another form of salt that is great for deicing and is good for temperatures down to -20°F. Let’s hope we don’t need that, here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area! While a little safer than rock salt for plants and animals, it can still harm them in large quantities. You may have some on hand for other uses, and it’s readily available, but you’re probably less likely to have it on hand than you are table salt!

Pet and Environmentally Friendly Alternative Chemicals

If you’re worried about environmental impacts from deicers, there are plenty of eco-friendly deicers on the market. Many claim to be pet-safe, less damaging to lawn and waterways, and less damaging to your concrete, if slightly less effective than traditional de-icers. Many are available on Amazon.

Sand

A readily available option that many have right in their backyard is sand! It doesn’t melt ice, but it can add traction to slippery areas. If you’re looking for traction for your tires on a slightly inclined driveway or help keep your sidewalk just a little safer, sand is a great option that won’t degrade your concrete or hurt your lawn. The biggest downside is the mucky mess it makes when the ice finally melts, but that’s a mop problem, which is certainly better than an injury problem! Sand can help on stairs, but melting the ice is the safer solution!

Heated Mats

Heated mats are an expensive solution, most likely added to a new build, and generally more widely used in areas that stay colder than Dallas-Fort Worth. If you live toward Collin County or any of the more northern counties in North Texas, and you’re building a new home or commercial property, this might not be a bad option to consider!

Anti-icers

Anti-icing solution is a chemical spray that is applied to your sidewalks and driveways before wintery mixes and snowstorms happen. Most come as a liquid in a jug and use a sprayer similar to a fertilizer or pesticide sprayer. Many claim to be eco and bio-friendly and non-toxic, though, like any chemical you apply outside, you’ll want to use it as sparingly as possible. Anti-icers are fairly easy to find (though they may be more readily available in colder climates) and are a great choice for retail and multifamily properties, where slip and fall suits might be a concern.

Shoveling

Good, old fashioned shoveling might do what you need if your ice isn’t too thick and you don’t have too large a surface to shovel. You’ll want to use a flat, wide shovel if you have one available.

Source: classicconstruction.com

As the holiday season unfolds, we find ourselves reflecting on the joy and warmth that comes with this special time of year. At Lallis & Higgins Insurance, we want to take a moment to extend our heartfelt gratitude to every one of you who has been a part of our journey.

From the entire Lallis & Higgins Insurance team, we send our warmest holiday greetings to you and your loved ones. Your support has been the cornerstone of our success, and for that, we are truly thankful.

May this festive season bring you moments of joy, laughter, and togetherness with those who matter most. Whether you're gathered around the dinner table, sharing stories by the fireplace, or simply taking a quiet moment of reflection, we hope your holidays are filled with warmth and comfort.

As we approach the dawn of a new year, we look forward to continuing this journey together. Your trust and patronage inspire us to reach new heights, and we are excited about the possibilities that the coming year holds.

Until we connect again, whether in person, over the phone, or through the written word, we wish you peace, prosperity, and all the happiness this holiday season has to offer. Thank you for being a cherished part of the Lallis & Higgins Insurance community. May your holidays be merry and bright, and may the new year usher in a wealth of opportunities and success.

Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year!

Warmest regards,

Lallis & Higgins Insurance

From active outdoor activities to more traditional outdoor fun, don't miss our exhaustive list of winter fun for kids of every age.

1. Try bowling outside with snowballs.
2. Shovel a snow maze.
3. Have an indoor snowball fight.
4. Put colored water in a spray bottle and write in the snow.
5. Bury small toys outside for a snowy treasure hunt.
6. Catch snowflakes on your tongue.
7. Make a snow volcano.
8. Make your own snow.
9. Build a snowman.
10. Try I Spy when everything is covered with snow.
11. Build a snow fort out of a snowbank.
12. Go snow-shoeing.
13. Use differently shaped containers to mold snow.
14. Paint the snow.
15. Find the biggest hill near you and go sledding.