Recommended Mods to add?

#3 - you can set season length and add holidays with NRAAS Tempest.

For number 4, I've only used one cc harvestable but I love it, especially for tropical worlds. It also adds two recipes:

http://modthesims.info/d/555991/harvestable-coconut-palm.html

Food/Plants:
http://www.modthesims.info/d/580462/canning-station-overhaul-update-aug-2-2016.html
http://modthesims.info/d/516243
http://modthesims.info/d/556649/harvestable-banana-plant-updated-17-nov-2015.html
http://modthesims.info/d/594851/baker-s-basket-plants-ingredients-and-recipes.html

Weather/Holidays:
https://www.nraas.net/community/Tempest-Interactions

Relativity/Game Speed:
https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/886414/help-with-relativity-mod-setting

More Challenging & Challenges:
https://www.nraas.net/community/Vector
http://modthesims.info/f/564/

Realistic:
http://modthesims.info/d/437344/moar-interactions.html
http://www.simlogical.com/ContentUploadsRemote/uploads/1171/

Careers:
https://www.nraas.net/community/MORE-CAREERS

There's a plethora of mods here:
http://simsasylum.com/tfm/index.php
And here:
http://www.simlogical.com/ContentUploadsRemote/UploadsIndex.htm

You can do a lot with Story Progression and it's modules:
https://www.nraas.net/community/StoryProgression
https://www.nraas.net/community/StoryProgression-FAQ

Going to include this if you need help with mod settings. I use the information as a guideline as I didn't know much about mods to begin with and it was a real help to me. She also has info to make your game more challenging/realistic (thankyou sarah!):
https://simsarahsarah.tumblr.com/nraassettings
https://simsarahsarah.tumblr.com/howiplay

Some of my fav Ani mods to make the game a little harder/realistic:
No Free Work Performance
No Fridge Shopping

2. I heard there's a mod to make rodents/ghosts/leaks in first home happen more often?

http://modthesims.info/d/430957

@PalmArrow @KatyFernlily @SimplyJen thanks!

"rubyskywalker;d-964568" wrote:
1. I'm looking for mods to make gameplay challenging or more realistic.
2. I heard there's a mod to make rodents/ghosts/leaks in first home happen more often?
3. Is there a mod to lengthen a simyear and add more holidays? (I'd like to add a Thanksgiving in between Spooky Day and Snowflake Day, Make months last 2 weeks instead of one. I'm thinking:

Spring Holidays: Love Day; Lucky Egg Day (Mix of St. Patrick's Day + Easter)
Summer Holidays: Leisure Day, (Not sure on second holiday name, ideas?)
Fall Holidays (Spooky Day, Feast Day)
Winter Holidays (Snowflake Day, Winterfest)

4. Any recommendations for mods to add more recipes + plants + ingredients? I don't know which ones to get.

5. Any other recommended mods? I have fixes for hidden paintings that didn't come in the game, but if you know others suggest them. Ones I have;

Nraas: Consigner; ErrorTrap; GoHere; MasterController + Cheats Module; Overwatch; PocketProtector Tablet; PortraitPanel; Relativity (Can't figure out how to change time to go only a little slower, nbd though); Saver; StoryProgession; Traffic; Traveler; Vector + modules; Produce Stand; Workout Costs Money

MTS:
Thank You Notes fix; Generations Frilly Painting Fix; Pets Ranch Paintings Fix; Movie Poster A & B Fix; Generations Video Camera Fix; Trophy Display Fix; Generations Paintings Fixes; Larger Devorative Magazines; Festivas Blinds Fix; Deep Conversations; Napping Mat

For mods, you already have the Nraas ones - Overwatch, Story Progression, and maybe Master Controller. Those are vital, as far as I am concerned, to any reading that don't have them!

There is a good salvage mod available, that allows sims to repair items they normally could, that they find in the junkyard. Handy for poor/homeless sim games. http://modthesims.info/d/522749/update-1-sep-2014-salvaged-junkyard-objects-made-usable.html

Another is to have all drinks served at all bars, which is great if you have a world that can't hold so many Late Night lots.

There is one for the missing auto soil plants for buydebug. Handy for lot building!

One to unlock the simport rewards is, as far as I am concerned, a must! No more having to catch someone online, just to unlock stuff that shouldn't be locked!

Another I like is one to have sims automatically flush - gross when they don't! Also one to make bathroom business happen faster. The way it's set normally takes way longer than is realistic.

I am a huge fan of the Dexter bear. Serial killer sims, bwahahaha!!!

For holidays, yeah, I set the game for two-week seasons, so there is time for everything. You can do a feast party whenever, to celebrate Thanksgiving, and they have more time for work, etc. One week isn't enough, with the holidays disrupting work schedules, anyway! For summer, the 4'th of July is pretty easy; just have them shoot off a lot of fireworks, after a nice picnic!

"PalmArrow;c-17202296" wrote:
#3 - you can set season length and add holidays with NRAAS Tempest.

For number 4, I've only used one cc harvestable but I love it, especially for tropical worlds. It also adds two recipes:

http://modthesims.info/d/555991/harvestable-coconut-palm.html

Oh, sweet! I hadn't looked at that one before; thanks!! Will have to add. I want real holidays, lol!