I recently had to change my dogs food because he was found to have an allergy to the food I was feeding him.  Poor thing was itching like crazy, and after different treatments and going back and forth with the vet, it was decided that we would change his food.  Without knowing not to do it I didn’t mix his new food with the old food.  Unlike humans, dogs have a much more sensitive digestive system and have to have to transition their food.  After an evening of an upset stomach and me being very worried about him we went to the vet.  Good news was it wasn’t something that couldn’t be fixed, and really he was back to normal within a couple of hours of getting him back on a mixture of his old food and new food.  The even better news is that we believe his allergies are all gone!

So for all of your new parents out there who are dealing with a pet as well remember that if you do have to change your pets food make sure you do it in a transition vs just changing cold turkey.

I was recently asked if housewarming parties still occur with the 20- and 30-something generations. The quick answer to this question is: YES! Of course they do! Everyone wants to show off their new house. Plus, the gifts aren’t that bad!

So what exactly is a housewarming party and what really happens?

While the history of a house warming party is relatively unknown, they have been happening for hundreds of years. They are typically celebrated when someone has recently purchased a house and want to share this new part of their life with close friends and family.

There are a few etiquette rules to consider when planning your house warming party.

#1 – It is considered correct to send out an invitation to your house warming anywhere from one to three weeks ahead of time.

#2 – While there is a set time, where people are invited to come to your house for viewing you should consider it to be more of an open house than a party. People will most likely come and go as they please. Typically there are no other set events than for you to possibly show people around the house.

#3 – It is considered proper for the one hosting the party to invite all of their neighbors as a way for them to meet them and become acquainted with the neighborhood.

#4 – It is not considered appropriate to host a housewarming party when you are simply renting or leasing a property as it is not permanent.

#5 – You should hold your party within one month of moving into your new house. It’s impolite to invite people months after you have moved in.

#6 – Lastly and most important, always remember to send a thank you note to anyone who gives you as gift. You can check out our entire collection here.

For the guests to such an event, it is polite to consider the following:

#1 – You are not required to bring a gift although it is strongly encouraged. A cute set of stationary or thank you notes is always a great gift!

#2 – It is considered rude to arrive within 20 minutes of the designated end time for the party as typically guests are beginning to leave or help the host/hostess tidy up the house.

#3 – From time to time a host or hostess might ask you to bring some food to the party for a potluck lunch. Remember not to bring anything to heavy or hard to serve. Your food should be smaller and typically more finger food.

Most importantly remember to have fun and enjoy your new house!