Latest news with #newhome
Washington Post
15-07-2025
- General
- Washington Post
Miss Manners: Co-workers suddenly inviting themselves over
Dear Miss Manners: I just moved into a new home, and I wanted to keep that information private at the place where I am temporarily working. I'm not particularly close to anyone there. Several people are nice to me but not to the point of being friends. Well, word got out about my house, and now several people have invited themselves over or hinted as much. None of these people have ever socialized with me, so I find it odd and awkward that they would suddenly invite themselves.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
I'm 38 and live in a retirement village. My rent is cheap, and my neighbors have taught me how to be a better friend.
After a break-up, I needed a new place to live but was having trouble finding an apartment I loved. My aunt suggested moving to her retirement village, and they accepted my application despite my age. I love living here. My neighbors have changed my perspective on aging. I get mixed reactions every time I tell people I live in a retirement village. Some people just laugh it off because they don't understand how I came to that decision. Some ask, "Isn't that depressing?" while some family members initially thought I was way too young to live around seniors. I get it — it's not typical to find a 30-something in a retirement village. But every Wednesday morning when I join my silver-haired neighbors for a game of bingo, I realize it's the best decision I've ever made. I'm a 38-year-old woman who's independent by all means. My ex and I previously shared a home, but after our long-term relationship ended, it made sense to move out and start fresh. While looking for an apartment that had everything I was looking for that I could afford, I had been living in an Airbnb for two months, which was becoming costly. Then one weekend, I visited one of my favorite aunts in her retirement village and casually explained that I was househunting. She told me that a unit a few minutes from her place had opened up and was actively seeking a tenant. I didn't see how I could get into the retirement village when there was an age stipulation, but she assured me they had made exceptions before. She was confident, and told me the village's homeowners' association reviewed applications on a case-by-case basis. And while I desperately needed an apartment, I thought I would feel out of place in the village. I wasn't sure how I would relate to older neighbors or rules like time limits on guest visitations and quiet hours, as I've never really been a stickler for rules. Still, after a lot of convincing, I submitted the application, which included a short letter explaining my situation, rental history, proof of income, credit report, photo ID, and my aunt's recommendation. Then, we waited to hear back. Six weeks later, I got a call saying I had been approved for the unit. I'm not sure what tipped the scales in my favor; maybe it was my aunt's glowing recommendation, or the fact that I expressed how I desperately needed community after a heartache. Either way, I signed the lease and was a resident. The actual move was surreal, especially because rent for my two-bedroom apartment is 500 Australian dollars, inclusive of service fee. That's a fraction of the going rate for most apartments of the same size in Melbourne, where a two-bedroom typically goes for AU$2800 to AU$3200. As I moved in, the neighbors introduced themselves, and I particularly remember a retired school principal and an Army vet who were kind enough to set up my bed and TV frame and make sure my cabinets could lock. My days often start the same way. I'm woken up by the faint sound of my neighbor's golden oldies. I drink coffee while reading the newspaper, enjoy a walk, and watch the occasional cat sunbathing. As members of the village strive to stay fit and have fun, I've joined chair yoga classes, cycled now and then, attended bingo at the clubhouse every Wednesday, and spent my afternoons freelancing. Evenings are also simple. I walk to the nearby grocery store or diner, bake, or sit on the porch and go down memory lane in unending conversations. These are things I always look forward to, and they are surprisingly peaceful. I've been living in the retirement village for a little over a year. I've stopped considering it a stepping stone to a better place, and I now see it as my home. I've never felt out of place, and living around people who are not in a rush to live life or consumed by tech has been great for my mental health. It's a kind of haven. My neighbors talk about their life experiences, the books they've read, the jobs they miss, and offer unsolicited yet meaningful advice. I meet their friends and family, making new friends along the way. Last week, my neighbor Anna taught me to make lemon bars, and I can't get enough of her chicken noodle soup. My new home has reshaped my life ambitions and the way I view aging. I've found immense peace here, and it's my definition of a wonderful life. It's comforting to know that the 70s and 80s aren't so bad after all. As I've learned from those around me, you can still have agency, volunteer, make friends, and start new hobbies, no matter your age. My experience has taught me how to be a better friend and neighbor. There's always a bowl of soup, apple pie, or a bottle of ginger ale on my front porch because everyone cares. In turn, I help run errands for others when I can, and even better, live only 10 minutes from my aunt. So, the next time you pass by your local retirement village, don't be shy to ask for an opening; you never know where it will take you. Read the original article on Business Insider
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mom Surprises Her Son with Their First Apartment After 14 Months in a Shelter, and His Reaction Goes Viral (Exclusive)
After 14 months in a shelter, Casey surprised her son with their first apartment — and his stunned reaction went viral The little boy didn't realize their new home had more than one room, leaving his mom in tears Now, Casey hopes to buy a house one day — so her son will always have a place to call homeWhen Casey opened the door to her new apartment, her heart was racing. After 14 months in a homeless shelter with her young son, she was finally ready to show him the surprise she had been dreaming about for months — and his innocent reaction would soon touch millions of people across the world. 'My son's name is Josiah. He will be 5 in August,' she tells PEOPLE, smiling as she describes her wide-eyed little boy, who finds joy in the simplest things like balloons and makeshift toys crafted from socks and Legos. Casey never imagined that a simple video of Josiah's wonder would go viral. In her TikTok post, she wrote, 'My child and I have been at an amazing homeless shelter for 14 months. Watch his reaction to seeing our new apartment for the first time. I had to encourage him to look around more a few times because he didn't know there was so much more to see than one room.' Before she arrived at Claire House, the shelter that became their safe haven, Casey had faced setbacks that would test any parent's strength. She candidly shares that after her son's father left when Josiah was just a baby, she struggled to manage life on her own. 'I have epilepsy. I can't drive. I couldn't buy diapers or even get him to doctor's appointments,' she tells PEOPLE, recalling the overwhelming challenges she faced in those early days. Eventually, her sister offered her a temporary place to stay while she waited for a spot at Claire House. That wait led to her first stay there, which lasted 10 months, ending with her moving into an apartment and finding hope for a fresh start. But life, as it often does, had other plans. 'He wanted me to be a stay-at-home mom and things were good for a few months,' Casey says of her son's father, noting that she gave up her apartment and job in hopes of building a family together again. When those plans unraveled, Casey found herself back in survival mode, rejoining the waitlist for Claire House. She was determined not to let her son's story end in instability. Moving into their new apartment marked a moment Casey says she will never forget. 'I remember feeling shaky,' she tells PEOPLE, describing the day she packed up her belongings with the help of a shelter staff member, picked Josiah up from daycare and handed him a Happy Meal as a little celebration. She had been telling Josiah for weeks that they were moving soon, though she wasn't sure if he fully understood what it meant. 'He has a provisional autism diagnosis right now. He struggles with comprehension,' she says, explaining why she wasn't sure how much he grasped. As they walked to the new apartment, Casey could barely contain her excitement. 'Do you want to see your new home?' she recalls asking him, her voice filled with anticipation. His reaction was pure, unfiltered magic. 'His eyes just got really wide and he said yes,' she says. 'Then he started counting. We're in the elevator and I was like, are you excited? He's like, 'Yes.' ' When they reached their door, Josiah paused and began counting aloud — '4, 5, 6' — before the video began rolling. It was a moment of disbelief and excitement all at once. What struck Casey most was how Josiah didn't seem to realize that there could be more than one room just for them. 'That was a gut punch in the stomach,' she says softly. 'I don't think he ever minded just having one room.' Even after they settled into the apartment, it took Josiah months before he felt comfortable sleeping in his own room. 'He was so used to sleeping next to me,' Casey says, sharing that he remained hesitant, unsure whether the other doors in their home really belonged to them. 'He's a very grateful child,' she adds with pride. 'He's not a child who, if they were disappointed, would've had a tantrum or anything. I think he kind of had that reaction because he was confused.' The video quickly struck a chord with viewers worldwide, drawing millions of views and thousands of messages. Casey was inundated with people reaching out. 'I had a lot of people messaging me, asking me if they could send something to him,' she tells PEOPLE. 'Tons have asked for a tour, a video tour.' Others reached out looking for advice on how to navigate their own journeys with homelessness or financial instability. 'The inbox was, 'How can I do this?' ' Casey says. 'Which was difficult, because I want to help, but every situation is different.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. She also encountered misconceptions about her story. 'A lot of people assume that because you're homeless, you must have some addiction issue or felonies,' she says, frustration in her voice. 'But from the people I've met, sometimes things just happen. And sometimes homelessness is actually a step up from where you were.' For Casey, having her own apartment means far more than just having a roof over their heads. 'I would say safe is the closest word, but I don't know if that's the right word,' she says thoughtfully. Though she always felt secure at Claire House, this new apartment brought something different. 'I knew that I had made it and that we would be okay,' she says. 'As long as I do what I need to do, my son's not even going to remember it.' The first week in their new home was filled with simple, joyful moments. Casey remembers ordering furniture and watching it slowly arrive. 'While that was arriving, he was just running around and throwing toys at the wall,' she says with a laugh. Without Internet, they made do with a portable DVD player, watching Finding Nemo every night and eating dinner on a box. 'That was the nightly thing,' Casey says. Staying hopeful during those hard months wasn't easy, but Casey credits the staff at Claire House for their unwavering support. She shares how they opened doors — both literally and figuratively — when she needed help the most. 'There was a time it was the middle of the night. My son was with his dad, and I started panicking,' she recalls. The staff unlocked the doors so she could get fresh air and clear her mind. Her weekly case meetings often became something more. 'Sometimes I just sat there and cried,' she says. 'They would tell me how much I had accomplished and how proud they were of me.' Outside of Claire House, Casey leaned on childcare assistance, her family and her best friend for support. 'Having a community is so special,' she says with gratitude. The experience has forever changed how she views stability and home. 'Things aren't as black and white as they used to be,' she says, reflecting on the lessons she's learned. Casey's dream for the future is beautifully simple — and profound. 'The only thing I'm set on right now is getting a house,' she says, explaining how she hopes to give Josiah the stability she lacked growing up. 'I want something that I can pass down to my son so he won't have to worry about a mortgage,' she says. 'Even if times get hard, he'll have a roof over his head.' Casey recently launched a GoFundMe after receiving an outpouring of support, sharing that her biggest hope is to someday buy a modest home where her son will always have a safe place to land. To others facing similar challenges, Casey offers heartfelt advice. 'Healing isn't linear,' she says firmly. 'Sometimes the process looks different for everyone.' She urges parents to prioritize their family's wellbeing over chasing higher-paying jobs that may pull them away from their children. 'Sometimes the job that pays less is better for your mental health and family time,' she says. Above all, Casey hopes her story helps others release guilt about their struggles. 'Just because something happened doesn't mean it's anyone's fault,' she says. 'Sometimes things just happen, and beating yourself up over it won't change that.' Though she admits she doesn't always feel deserving of the praise she's received, others see something different — a mother's fierce love and quiet resilience. 'Everyone's congratulating me, and I don't feel like I should be congratulated for picking up the pieces of the mess I made,' Casey says. 'But I'm working on it.' Read the original article on People
Washington Post
09-07-2025
- General
- Washington Post
Miss Manners: Still-unpacking family ambushed by housewarming party
Dear Miss Manners: My parents decided to throw us a housewarming party — the day after we moved our family of five into a new home. They invited some people around town who'd known me as a kid. They also invited my friends, and then asked them to invite more people. And they brought their own snacks. We had been cleaning the apartment we had moved out of, and still needed to put up curtains and assemble beds in the new place. The guests were polite, but did not help us unpack, except for my brother, who helped me with my daughter's bed. Was there a polite way I could have asked these unexpected guests to leave so we could continue working? Trying to explain to guests that, while it is true they were invited to your new home, you are not responsible for making them feel welcome because you were unaware an invitation had been sent is a bit like trying to explain to the police that, although you admit to driving the getaway car, you had no idea your friend intended to rob the bank. Your audience will be skeptical — if not outright hostile — and you cannot rely on the people who know the truth to back up your story. Miss Manners says this to encourage you to pay greater attention to your parents' plans in the future, in case you missed an earlier opportunity to squelch this one. By the time everyone had arrived, the most you could do politely was look so tired and overwhelmed that the guests decamped voluntarily — or pitched in. Dear Miss Manners: I often hear someone say something along the lines of, 'We politely ask that you refrain from …' or 'We politely decline to accept …' Silly question, but this doesn't make sense to me: If you're asking or doing something politely, should you actually SAY you are doing that thing politely? The correct form is, 'We respectfully ask (or decline),' which Miss Manners would normally agree is silly, except that it is not easy to convey respect in very few words. Dear Miss Manners: I prepared some hand-dipped chocolate goodies and delivered them to a couple of ladies in my neighborhood. A few days later, one of the ladies called me to tell me she was diabetic and couldn't eat them. I was sad that 'the thought that counts' must not come into play anymore. I felt her phone call was rude and unnecessary. Am I being petty, or was she being rude? It will make me think twice next time I try to be thoughtful. This friend certainly won't see goodies from me again. Then you will not want to hear that this lady spent the intervening time fuming over the thoughtlessness displayed in putting her health at risk — as if, instead of trying to brighten her day, you had attempted to force-feed her. Miss Manners recommends saying, 'I'm sorry to hear that. Thanks for letting me know' — and then tossing the conversation in the memory dustbin and, as was your plan, not repeating the gesture. This is also an approximation of what Miss Manners would have counseled the lady with diabetes, had she been asked. New Miss Manners columns are posted Monday through Saturday on You can send questions to Miss Manners at her website, You can also follow her @RealMissManners. © 2025 Judith Martin
The Sun
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Chloe Sims gives fans a tour of her huge new LA apartment after months spent searching for perfect home
CHLOE Sims gave her fans a tour of her huge new LA apartment after months spent searching for the perfect home. The former ITVBe star declared that she decided to make her move across the world to California 'more permanent'. 9 9 9 Chloe, 43, first rose to fame in 2011 on The Only Way is Essex when she was introduced as the cousin of Joey Essex. She was the longest-serving cast member on the hit reality show before finally departing in 2021 to start a new chapter after over a decade. Now, the star took to social media to celebrate the fact that she finally owns her very own home in Los Angeles. At the top of her Instagram grid page was a new behind-the-scenes video to Natasha Bedingfield 's hit track Unwritten - which was famously used in the iconic LA-based MTV reality series, The Hills. In the clip, her car drove past the famous Four Seasons hotel on the prestigious Doheney Drive in Beverly Hills. She later gave fans a tour around the new apartment, which contained a huge open-plan kitchen and living area. The walls looked absolutely pristine in the newly renovated living area which was also decked out with stylish wooden floorboards. Chloe looked casual as she donned a yellow t-shirt with baggy summer trousers and black sandals. She captioned the video: "New home!" along with a key emoji. "After living here for a while I decided to make it more permanent! Massive thank you to @zolakanwal for searching for months to find me the perfect home!" Inside Chloe Sims' lavish birthday party with famous cousin, Towie legends and Rita Ora The former reality star added: "Let's decorate!! #newhome #renovation." The clip was also emblazoned with the caption: "So this happened. L.A era! Our new home," with a yellow heart emoji. A year after quitting Towie she starred in her own show on the OnlyFans streaming network, OFTV, which was titled House of Sims. This was alongside her family Demi, Frankie, and brother Charlie as the quartet tried to make it big in LA. Joey Essex's famous exes Sam Faiers - Joey dated Towie co-star Sam Faiers from 2011. The pair were one of the original Essex duos, and were together on and off for three years before ending the relationship for good in September, 2014. Amy Willerton - Joey was rumoured to be dating his I'm A Celeb co-star Amy Willerton in 2013, when they both appeared on the show together. The romance soon fizzled out afterwards and Willerton, who won the title of Miss Universe Great Britain said she found it difficult. Speaking to the Daily Star Sunday newspaper, she said: "The attention after we left the show was really hard for me. While Joey had a strong management team behind him, I didn't really have anybody in my corner." Stephanie Pratt - Made In Chelsea star and US born socialite, Stephanie Pratt, dated Joey for three months. They fell for each other while appearing in Celebs Go Dating and shared a steamy kiss in Joey's swimming pool. But he dumped her in October 2016 for making him "spend too much time in Chelsea". Lorena Medina - Joey met model Lorena Medina on MTV reality show Ex On The Beach in 2019. Their relationship seemed to be going well after Joey showed her around his hometown of Chigwell in Essex. But the pair split in February 2020. Lorena had moved into his home in Chigwell, Essex, in September 2019, but they had a furious bust-up after he was snapped entering singer Rita Ora's home in the early hours of the morning. Rita Ora - Joey's ex Lorena revealed to The Sun that she dumped Joey after he spent a wild night out with Rita Ora early in 2020. He was holed up for 13 hours in Rita's mansion after the pair had tried to avoid being seen together by taking separate cars between venues. However, the pair have denied that there was anything romantic between them. Joey said: "We have known each other for years. She's a nice girl but we're just friends." Vanessa Bauer - Joey was rumoured to have had a brief romance with Dancing on Ice pro skater Vanessa Bauer during his stint on the hit ITV show in 2023. Rumours of the pair's relationship circled for months in the lead up to the show airing, with Vanessa exclusively denying the whispers to the Sun in November 2022. The pair came runners-up during the final in March - and while it seemed like they were close on the show, it appeared to have fizzled out shortly after. By May 2023, Joey confirmed he was single and said he could not see a future for them after the final. The sisters had a huge falling out on the show as they quit LA and fled to the UK, whilst Chloe opted to stay and try and break America. At the time, a source told The Sun: "Chloe's fallen out with her sisters big time. "They've gone their separate ways after a huge fight broke out in LA, where they'd been filming the show. 'Chloe's decided to stay out there while Frankie and Demi have left her and headed back home to Essex to pursue their own careers." 9 9 9 9 9 9
