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Whoa! Saddle Up and Take a Gander at This Equestrian Paradise in Florida

realtor.com

Lots of folks go to Florida for the beaches, but the state is also a destination for those with a hankering for equestrian life. In fact, two Florida towns make EQ Living's top places to live for horse lovers.

As for where to go in the Sunshine State-Wellington is the place to be for all things equine-related. The town hosts top equestrian events and boasts a number of sprawling horse-friendly estates. And the beach being a mere half-hour away doesn't hurt.

Right now, there are 20 equestrian estates available in Wellington priced over $10 million. However, a really rare opportunity has landed on the market for $28,750,000.

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Watch: Yeehaw! This Western-Style Ranch Is Fit for a Modern Cowboy

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“The location is what makes this one so special,” says listing agent Carol Soliak. “You can actually see the horse shows. This is where the prestigious Winter Equestrian Festival is held, and you can literally see the show from the property.”

Wellington is also the spot for year-round horse events. “The area showcases the best of every discipline,” says Soliak.

Aerial view

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The sprawling estate includes 20 acres and all the amenities a horse lover could want: a 20-stall barn, an all-weather riding arena, and grass Grand Prix ring. The property also comes with access to a winding trail system perfect for a leisurely trot.

One of two tack rooms

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The state-of-the-art barn includes two tack rooms, feeding rooms, and grooming stations. There's also an office and lounge, as well as a 1,300-square-foot apartment with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and two balconies.

Exterior view of the barn

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Pool and spa

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Elsewhere on the estate are two separate residences, both outfitted with top-of-the-line appliances.

Even with the existing structures, there's still plenty of land on which to build if the new owner so chooses.

“There's so much potential here,” says Soliak. “There's space for an enormous house.”

One of the houses on the property

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The post Whoa! Saddle Up and Take a Gander at This Equestrian Paradise in Florida appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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Exterminators vs. Pest Control Professionals

Same goal, different method

When you have an issue with insects or mice in your home, the first word that springs to mind might be exterminator. And while you might think an exterminator is the same thing as a pest control professional, there are some key differences. The goal of eliminating pests in your home is the same, but the ways they achieve the goal are very different. Modern Pest employs a team of Pest Control Professionals. We have several Associate Certified Entomologists on staff, as well as our highly-trained and licensed general managers, service managers, and Service Professionals. So how is an exterminator different from a Pest Control Professional?

Are you in need of a Pest Control Professional? Call Modern today at 1-800-323-PEST, or click here to schedule service.

Exterminators

An exterminator's main objective is to kill the pests. They don't always address the root of the pest problem.

Exterminators rely solely on pesticides to get rid of your problem. This means sometimes using materials that are more toxic than necessary to alleviate the issue. They might also be used in a wider area than needed.

Exterminators rarely provide a service satisfaction guarantee for their work. By not getting to the root of the pest issue, they are providing a temporary solution to a potentially long-term problem.

Pest Control Professionals

Pest Control Professionals (PCPs) like the ones at Modern Pest use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and know that the key to curbing pests long-term is prevention and management.

Using IPM, PCPs will form a partnership with the client. They will ask questions and try to determine how the problem started. They will provide advice on how the client can make their home less welcoming to pests.

PCPs emphasize protecting the environment by using the most environmentally-friendly materials to get rid of pests. They are applied in a highly-effective, targeted manner that gets the job done.

The materials that PCPs use against pests are just as effective but are less toxic to humans and pets.

PCPs look for long-term solutions to your pest issues, as opposed to just using chemicals to kill the pests you see. How are the pests getting in? How do we keep them out?

PCPs are educated, trained, and licensed in the safest and most effective ways to eliminate specific pests.

Modern's Pest Control Professionals get to the root of the problem and find the best solution to keep you pest-free. Call 1-800-323-PEST or click here to schedule service or get a quote today.

The Modern Solution

While it would be great to treat all your pest problems in one shot, most situations require more than one visit. That's why Modern believes in the IPM method and its preventative maintenance and recurring service.  You didn't develop a mouse problem overnight, and it won't be solved overnight either. It also won't be solved with one visit from an exterminator that doesn't figure out a long-term solution. At Modern Pest, our pest control pros work hard to reduce your pest population and keep it that way. So don't just call an exterminator. When you need help, call Modern's professionals at 1-800-323-PEST.

The post Exterminators vs. Pest Control Professionals appeared first on Modern Pest.

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Advantages of Owning a Franchise

Advantages of Owning a Franchise

On the previous feature, we have discussed the advantages of buying a franchise. In this article, we will further discuss why it is a better idea to own a franchise.

  Organized training and support is provided by the franchiser. You can expect that whatever good practices there is in the brand, this will be carried out to your franchise as well.

Franchisees use various measures to ensure your success. It is in the franchiser's best interest to make sure you grow and sell.

Franchisers often have good track record, a sure prerequisite to become a successful franchise as well. You as an owner carry out the same reputation as well.

Franchisers provide you with location assistance, making sure that wherever you decide to put up your franchise will have the maximum possible profitability.

A good franchise can take advantage of the entire economic system, and negotiate the best prices for everything you need at significantly lower rate than you would as an independent business owner.

  To know more about franchise opportunities at Life Maid Easy, click the link: http://www.lifemaideasyfranchise.com/

The post Advantages of Owning a Franchise appeared first on Life Maid Easy - House Cleaning Services for Vancouver.

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Listen, love and appreciate: 5 things 2018 taught this KW broker

New year's goals and resolutions aren't everyone's cup of tea - but a good bit of reflection never hurt anyone. For one Keller Williams broker, the end of the year brought many lessons about business, leadership, relationships and more. Here are the top five lessons Adam Hergenrother learned in 2018.

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How to Use a Garage More Effectively for Holiday Decoration Storage

With the holiday season winding down, it's time to start thinking about your post-holiday season pack-up.

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season can be draining, which makes it easier to take a few shortcuts by packing things away quickly and storing them anywhere.

Sure, that gets the job done quicker now, but it only makes the task of finding and unpacking all of your disorganized holiday decorations more time-consuming later.

Have a smart holiday decoration storage plan

By putting a little extra thought into how and where your holiday decorations will be stored, you can save yourself from some future headaches.

Garages are ideal for a lot of your holiday decoration storage needs, whether you're storing decorations for Christmas, Halloween, birthday parties, or holidays like the Fourth of July or Canada Day.

The garage has to be used the right way when storing your holiday decorations, however, in order the maintain the functionality of the space.

Use overhead racks for your holiday decoration storage

For the most effective use of your garage as a holiday decoration storage space, add some overhead storage racks.

Ceiling-mounted overhead racks take advantage of the vertical storage space in your garage's upper reaches that is typically underutilized.

In addition to maximizing your garage's storage space, overhead racks are also ideal for storing bulky items and things that are infrequently used…which describes unneeded holiday decorations pretty much perfectly!

Everything from storage bins filled with tree ornaments to artificial Christmas trees, wreaths, and garlands to holiday lights to holiday lawn inflatables can be stashed up high.

Your daily routine can even run a little smoother simply by using this out-of-the-way storage space for your holiday decorations. There won't be bulky storage bins taking up valuable garage floor space, which makes parking more difficult.

And less floor clutter means extra space for keeping tools, sports equipment, and other items you use regularly more efficiently stored and easier to access.

Overhead racks that use the underutilized storage space in your garage's ceiling area keep your floor clutter-free.

Use plastic storage bins

Whether you're storing your holiday decorations in the garage or elsewhere in your home, always use plastic storage bins and containers instead of cardboard boxes.

Plastic storage bins are sturdier, stack easier and more safely, are easier to move around, and provide superior moisture protection compared to cardboard boxes. They're also not a fire hazard.

Some people prefer using clear plastic storage bins because it helps them to identify stored items quickly. That may sound practical, but it's probably a better idea to use non-clear, solid color containers with labels.

Holiday ornaments and lights, especially ones you're keeping for many years, can lose their color faster if they're exposed to too much light when stored.

Fabric bags specifically made for storing holiday decorations should be stored indoors if possible, due to the higher moisture levels garages commonly have.

Avoid storing these holiday decorations in the garage

While the garage is a perfect spot for many of your holiday decoration storage requirements, it's not the best storage area for certain items unless it's climate-controlled.

The extreme temperature fluctuations and excess moisture found in many garage environments makes them less than ideal for storing these holiday decorations:

fabric-based festive decorations and adornments (examples: tablecloths, Christmas stockings and hats, tree skirts)

candles (store them somewhere cool)

very delicate glass, crystal, and antique ornaments

food-based decorations

If you absolutely have to keep some fabric-based decorative items stored in the garage for any reason, make sure they're sealed tight in a plastic container. Wrapping items in acid-free paper or using silica packets to absorb moisture can help preserve the storage bin's contents.

Another reason to avoid storing fabric-based and food-based decorations in the garage is that they can attract pests.

Label your holiday decoration storage items

Try to keep all your stored holiday decorations together in order to make everything easier to find.

Many organization experts recommend using color-coded storage containers or container lids to simplify things (such as green for Christmas decorations or orange for Halloween decorations).

And even if you're being diligent and using color-coded containers, always be sure that everything is labelled.

Labelled containers eliminate the time-consuming guesswork that inevitably occurs when it's time to unpack your decorations and find what you need when decorating your home next holiday season.

Storing an artificial Christmas tree in the garage

Because of its bulkiness, an artificial Christmas tree's go-to storage spot in most homes will probably be the garage.

Don't leave an artificial Christmas tree uncovered in the garage because it'll naturally gather a lot of dust over the course of a year. Why add an artificial tree cleaning to your busy holiday to-do list 11 months (or so) from now?

When storing an artificial Christmas tree in the garage, definitely ditch the cardboard box it came in and invest in a proper plastic tree storage bin. Look for a container with wheels so it's easier to transport.

Tree storage bags are also popular, although they're less suited for a garage environment. Also note that white artificial trees or trees with those snow dusting treatments are prone to yellowing and shorter lifespans if temperature and humidity storage conditions aren't optimal.

While this garage is clean and organized, that poor artificial Christmas tree could really use a proper storage container.

Additional holiday decoration storage tips

When preparing your holiday decorations for storage, here are a few final tips you might find useful:

use bubble wrap or decoration storage containers (avoid wrapping decorations in newspaper, as the ink rubs off)

prevent string light tangles by using string light reels or even wrapping them around discarded wrapping paper tubes

declutter holiday decorations you haven't used for a few years (donate any items that are still in good condition)

make a list of what broken holiday decorations need to be replaced for next year

Get organized to start the new year

If you have a New Year's resolution that includes tidying up your home, start by storing your holiday decorations in an organized manner and somewhere that's out of your way.

We can help you create more storage space for your holiday decorations and anything else you need to store in the garage, in addition to making the space look much nicer.

Schedule a free in-home design consultation with Garage Living today.

Please share this post if you found it useful.

See also:

7 Garage Overhead Storage Tips That Help You Use Your Space Wisely

7 Awesome Automotive Gift Ideas for the Holidays

7 Proven Garage Improvement Strategies to Utilize in 2018

The post How to Use a Garage More Effectively for Holiday Decoration Storage appeared first on Garage Living Blog.

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My Spending Has Put Me in Serious Debt. Should I Consolidate?

Dear J.J.,

That “I can't stop spending” feeling isn't just some kind of personal weakness. It's a widely studied psychological phenomenon.

Behavioral economists have figured out that various forms of payment have different “pain” levels. Pain of payment is worst when you pay with cash, because you can see and feel the bills leaving your wallet and entering someone else's register. There's a little bit less pain when you use a debit card and the money leaves your checking account immediately.

But credit? Paying with a credit card is just about painless. Not only are zero dollars leaving your account at the time you acquire an item or service, but you also have the option of putting off that payment for weeks, months, years, forever. Just as much as we love instant gratification, we love procrastinating.  

So when you see a credit limit that you have not maxed out, you see a big green light. Go! Do not slow down. Spend it until it's gone. The pain hides until it's time to pay the tab.

You need a big change to get out of the cycle. You need to plot out every dollar of that debt and how you're going to pay it off. Taking a personal loan to consolidate your credit card debt only works if:

The interest rate is lower than all your other debt.

You take out a loan for the exact amount you need to cover your current debt - and not a penny more.

You need to create a financial no-temptation zone. It's time to call in an accountability partner. This is someone you trust and can talk to about money - a friend, a colleague, a cousin. Someone who will scold you gently if you get off track and cheer you on when you hit small goals along the path to paying off your debt. They'll make sure your payoff plans are bold but reasonable. They'll help shoulder the pain of paying off your debt and remind your brain of the intangible, but important, pleasure of having less debt.

This will take years, and I don't mean just paying off your debt. I mean rewiring your brain to live within your means. It's something even the most financially savvy of people struggle to overcome. It's easier to spend money than ever before, especially money that is not truly yours to spend. Paying it back will feel distinctly un-fun.

But if you can envision a debt-free future and the ease it will bring to your life - your accountability partner should help get you pumped up for this - you'll start to see those debt payments as steps toward financial freedom.

Have a tricky money question? Write to Dear Penny and you might see your question answered in an upcoming column.

Lisa Rowan is a personal finance expert and senior writer at The Penny Hoarder, and the voice behind Dear Penny.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

The Penny Hoarder Promise: We provide accurate, reliable information. Here's why you can trust us and how we make money.

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It's the Little Things #30

Happy Friday!  Here are my favorites from the week with you – it might be a quote, a print, what I'm reading, a favorite podcast, a playlist, a recipe, a helpful tip, a cleaning product, or something I added to our home. Basically if it's something little that I feel is shareable or if it's […]

The post It's the Little Things #30 appeared first on Clean Mama.

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Four Tips to Get Rid of Spotted Lanternfly

Lots of homeowners are concerned about the Spotted Lanternfly lately.  There are several ways you can help control the spread of this invasive pest.  Here are four tips to get rid of Spotted Lanternfly.

Removing Ailanthus trees

Spotted Lanternfly requires the ailanthus altissima to reproduce. This tree is the spotted lanternfly's primary target.  Because of this, the first step you should take to get rid of this pest is removing these trees from your property.  This is a must for managing this pest!

Control for ailanthus trees is never simple – they're very hardy plants!  What is generally recognized as the most effective control method is called “hack and squirt,” and involves cutting notches in the bark around the circumference of the tree.  Herbicide should be applied directly into the wound, once these notches have been cut into the tree.

A selective herbicide containing the chemical triclopyr may be used without damage to plants around the ailanthus tree.  However, if you are not a registered pesticide applicator in Pennsylvania and want to DIY this, a product with glyphosate (like Roundup) will work.  Use caution, however – not only are you applying an herbicide, but glyphosate is non-selective, meaning it kills any plant it touches.  If you don't want to damage other plants around the tree, you may want to contract a professional to help.

Removing Spotted Lanternfly egg masses

During Fall and Winter months, and after a hard freeze, it's a great idea to inspect your property.  Look closely at the siding on your home, your cars, your grill, the trailer or RV, mailbox, trees and shrubs on the property, old piles of debris – give it a thorough inspection!

You should also inspect your cars any time you're leaving the quarantine zone for egg masses.  If you're going to be travelling to York, Dauphin, Cumberland, or Perry Counties, you should be inspecting your vehicle before you travel to ensure you're not transporting SLF outside the quarantine zone.

If you see the eggs masses from Spotted Lanternfly, scrape them into a bottle or sandwich bag containing rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer.  This will kill the eggs so they do not hatch.  If using a sandwich bag, we recommend that you “double bag,” just to be safe.  Scraped egg masses should be thrown away immediately.

Sticky bands to catch nymphs

When nymphs first hatch in late Spring or early Summer, they tend to migrate to the fresher, greener parts of the tree where the new growth is to begin feeding.  And this makes sense; it could their piercing/sucking mouthparts may not be as developed yet, and unable to penetrate more mature bark.  Whatever the reason, it gives people trying to control their spread another tool in the arsenal – “sticky bands.”

The basic idea is simple: wrap the trunk of the tree in a sticky material that the nymphs will get stuck on.  If they can't get free and feed, they'll certainly never reach adulthood!  The Spotted Lanternfly Management for Homeowners published by Penn State even recommends simply using duct tape, and wrapping in backwards, tightly around the tree as an effective method for controlling nymphs.

Homeowners who are concerned about slowing the spread of this pest should target the trees we've mentioned first.  Then, move on to other trees on their property with this same method.  Sticky bands should be re-applied weekly during nymph stages (late May to September) for best results.

Note: “Sticky band” picture supplied by Heather Leach at Penn State University, and used with permission.

  Chemical control

This should be considered a final “backstop” to the other control methods we've outlined so far in this post.  There isn't a ton of information about what's really effective on this pest right now.  While experts agree that their nervous system is disrupted by available pesticides, none are presently labelled for use on the Spotted Lanternfly.

What seems to be working for now is a combination of two different pesticide approaches.  These are commonly referred to as systemic and contact pesticides.  Systemic pesticides are products that the plant material absorbs, and it stays inside the plant itself.  This is how products like grub control work for your lawn.  The product is absorbed into the plant.  Then when an insect feeds on the plant, they ingest that product.

By contrast, contact pesticides are just what they sound like – they work on contact with the bug.  Examples of contact products most homeowners are familiar with are Raid and Black Flag for things like spiders and ants.  And, like those over-the-counter products, many contact pesticides also include a residual effect.  This means that they'll continue to kill bugs for a period of time (depending on the product used, rate of application, rainfall, etc.) after the application is completed.

Systemic products seem to be having a really good results with the nymph stage of the Spotted Lanternfly right now.  The adults are better controlled by contact products with regular follow up applications, because they're far more mobile.

  If you have questions about protecting your trees from this pest, please Contact Us.  We'd be happy to discuss your concerns.

The post Four Tips to Get Rid of Spotted Lanternfly appeared first on Tomlinson Bomberger.

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Top 5 Tips for Inviting Bath Designs

Learn How to Create an Inviting Guest Bathroom Design in Your Bucks County Home

One of the best things about the holiday season is having people to stay in your home.  Entertaining guests is important, but so too is creating a sanctuary for them with a well-prepared guest bathroom. To ensure your visitors feel happy and relaxed, good bath design is called for, along with a few extra touches for a guest bathroom or powder room.

 1.  KEEP IT SIMPLE

As with any bathroom design, invest in a good shower, toilet and sink with a vanity. Make sure there is a mirror and decent lighting for people to get ready. A bathtub probably won't be necessary in your guest bathroom design unless you anticipate visitors with small children. While you can experiment with color in the master bathroom, it's best to adhere to a neutral or monochrome palette in the guest bath. Play with textures and shapes and incorporate a statement piece but try to appeal to everyone's taste.

 2. LUXURY TOUCHES                                                                                                         

You're not running a hotel, but it's still nice to add luxe extras for your guests to enjoy during their stay. They'll probably bring basic toiletries but put out a basket of high-end pampering products as well as supplying essentials they may have forgotten. Have a plush robe on hand for each person in addition to fluffy towels in different sizes, remembering to hang hooks or rails for them to dry on. Candles and diffusers give a welcoming feel and show your guests that you've taken the time to make them feel special.

3. TAKE TIME TO SET UP                                                                                                   

While it's important to show visitors that everything is at hand, things should be displayed with thought and presented meticulously. Open shelving is the best solution as people can find what they need without rooting around. When displaying items, sort them into groups and then vary their size, to give an ordered yet interesting look. Hairdryers and toilet paper can go in a little vanity included in your customized bathroom design storage.

4. LEAVE SPACE

Remember to leave some space free when planning your remodel. Guests will appreciate having somewhere to put their own essentials. Resist the urge to accessorize too much. Guests might have to move a bowl of potpourri to clear space for their medications and essential toiletries! Also, remember that this is not a room to store your extra things. It should be a dedicated room for guests, at least while they are staying with you.

5. PRACTICALITIES

Think about who will be coming and for how long.  Bathroom rugs are a good idea to prevent elderly people slipping on a tiled floor. If your guests are long-term visitors (more than a few days) then include a laundry basket for them to use. Don't forget extra touches like plungers, air neutralizers and extra toilet paper, to avoid potential embarrassment. This also applies to your frequently used powder room.

The master bathroom is often the main priority in bath design, but the guest bathroom design should feel special too. Look at our bathroom gallery for more ideas and contact our design experts to help you create an inviting bath remodel that will wow your guests for years to come.

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What Colour Works Best for Your Kitchen?

Finding the right colours for your kitchen can be the difference from a fantastic design and one that looks disjointed and uncoordinated.

What colour works best for your kitchen? This is a question that we are going to explore in this weeks' blog at the Kitchen Warehouse.

You might have great cabinets, a new floor or modern appliances but if you mess up the wall colour this can all be in vain. Choosing the right colour to suit your design is vital.

There are a few things to think about first and questions that you need to ask yourself.

How much natural light do you have?

The size of your kitchen and how much natural light you have will have a big impact on your colour scheme.

Kitchen's that have a lot of natural light coming in can afford to have a darker colour on the wall. This could be with windows or even skylights and if there is an abundance of sunlight coming into the room you can potentially choose a duller colour. This is because there is light coming in anyway. In smaller kitchens or kitchens that have limited natural light, using darker colours can have a negative effect. It can make the room feel smaller and claustrophobic.

However, does this mean that dark colours should be avoided altogether?

Should you avoid darker colours?

Not necessarily. Even if you don't have much natural light this doesn't mean that you can't have a darker shade on your wall either.

Some people say that darker colours and dark neutral colours don't promote hunger which is kind of going against the whole point of the room! That being said, the design of every room in your home should be to your taste. If you like darker colours then why not have a dark blue or dark grey on your kitchen walls. If you prefer lighters colours then go for that.

Darker shades shouldn't just be avoided outright. There are a lot of factors that can compliment navy, blacks or grays in the kitchen.

Colours that go well in most kitchens

The debate about what colour works best for your kitchen can last for days without really getting anywhere. We have picked out 5 different colours that are generally universal.

Warm Neutrals

OK, so this isn't 'one' colour per se however warm neutrals cover a range of shades that can work wonders in your kitchen.

Warm neutrals have hints and shades of brown, red, orange, or yellow undertones and work with pretty much any other colour scheme. The reason that warm neutrals tend to work better than what we would call cold neutrals (think colours with undertones of blue or green) is because they are more inviting. These colours fell a lot more homely and provide a friendlier nature to the room overall. You can combine warm neutrals with pretty much anything from striking kitchen cabinets to wood. They are also a good idea to use in a kitchen with an accent wall as we will see below.

White

White can often be seen as a bit boring but it is highly effective in creating a clean and minimalist design.

If you want a kitchen that looks uncluttered then white is a great choice. In fact, white painted rooms have an energy about them and as the kitchen is one of the first rooms you go into in the morning in search of some caffeine, white walls can offer a subconscious perk me up. Why not go white on white and combine this with white kitchen cabinets? It is a popular design trend and is becoming a real hallmark of modern kitchen design.

Blue

Blue is a colour that is not automatically associated with kitchen design. That doesn't mean that it can be used for great effect in the kitchen and it doesn't even need to be as an accent colour either.

The thing with blue is that it provides a real crisp dimension to your room. It is recommended that you use it quite sparingly so resist the temptation to cover every part of the kitchen in blue. If you are wondering what colour works best for your kitchen and are stumped for ideas that are a little bit different than the norm then consider blue. It isn't that common and will make your kitchen have a unique slant.

Green

We've blogged about having green as one of the primary colours in your kitchen before – Why Green Is The New Must Have Colour. Many people think that green is outdated and is better left as a design trend a few decades ago.

This isn't the case. Green can be a very effective colour to have in your kitchen and it can blend in and work very well with whites, grays and other light colours. Not only is it a very inviting colour it is natural too. Green reminds us of nature and if you want a calm and relaxing vibe to your kitchen, a light shade of green can really help to achieve this effect.

Yellow

Finally, we have yellow. A nice bright colour that reminds us of sunshine and summer days. Can it work in your kitchen? Yes!

if you are wondering what colour works best for your kitchen then yellow should be a stronger contender because it can go with nearly anything. In fact, if you have a lot of gray in your room then yellow works fabulously with this and helps to bring it to life. Yellow is great too at reflecting light so if you have a dull kitchen or one that doesn't receive a ton of natural light then yellow can help to brighten to the whole room.

Think about an accent wall too

If you are still debating what colour to paint your kitchen or if you think it could do with something to make it appear more modern then consider an accent wall.

Creating an accent in your kitchen is very easy and can have a massive effect on how your room looks. It can bring attention to one particular part of the room or even just break up an monotony of colour. A kitchen accent can take many forms from accent lighting, accent kitchen cupboard doors or even just painting one room different than the rest. The possibilities here are endless.

What colour works best for your kitchen?

So, what colour works best for your kitchen?

Like everything when it comes to kitchen design, it depends on you, your tastes and what you want.

The colours we have shown you in this blog will generally go with anything in your kitchen. This is why they are so popular but don't be afraid to experiment and try something new. Just remember to ensure that you don't make your kitchen feel smaller wither dark colours if you have poor natural light or make it overly bright with light colours in a room that is already well lit.

Whether you play it safe or go for something a bit left field, adding a splash of colour to your kitchen can really transform the room even if you don't do anything else.

The post What Colour Works Best for Your Kitchen? appeared first on Kitchen Blog | Kitchen Design, Style Tips & Ideas | Kitchen Warehouse UK.

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Happy New Year! A Fresh Start Calls for Fresh Color in Your Nashville Home

Ah, the new year... This is prime time for resolutions, new beginnings, rekindled goals, and boundless optimism.

It's great, isn't it? So much potential and promise rolled into the launch of a new year.

While we try to stay out of those resolutions that involve treadmills, gym memberships, and more or less of [you fill in the blank], we do love helping with resolutions that involve home improvement and color.

After all, tackling that project idea that's been gathering dust since 2015 can be just as much a resolution as any other, and completing it will offer benefits you can enjoy for months and years to come.

So, what's on your painting wish list?

Popular Interior Painting Projects in Nashville

#1: Complete Interior Repaints

This is a big season for total repaints! And, for good reason. While localized projects can have tremendous impact, and in some cases are all that's necessary, larger projects offer an unparalleled opportunity for creating a cohesive palette and total transformation. It can also be more budget-friendly too, wrapping up a large project in one fell swoop rather than breaking it up over numerous smaller ventures.

#2: Painting Kitchens and Bathrooms

When done correctly, bathroom and kitchen paint jobs offer some of the highest returns on investment of any home improvement project. These environments can be difficult to paint, though, and are extremely hard on paint products. You need to make a choice guided by experience, and invest in a high-quality application that will really perform as you need it to.

#3: Kitchen Cabinet Painting Services

This is one of our most popular services, and it's not hard to see why. Compared to a full cabinet replacement or kitchen remodel, painting can be much more cost-effective while still offering an incredible transformation.

Just be careful to hire a professional that knows the process inside and out, and has proven experience. Hiring a low bidder who is light on credentials can be an expensive, disappointing mistake.

#4: Repainting for Resale

Is your property going on the market anytime soon? Painting is one of the most recommended strategies for increasing the marketability of your home. Warm, inviting, neutral colors (NOT boring white!) look fresh and enticing, while still leaving room for the imagination of your prospective buyer. They want to envision themselves in the space, and NOT envision a painting project because of damaged, dated, or drab walls.

As we mentioned above, make sure your kitchen and bathrooms are on the list of rooms to refresh, as well as higher-visibility, high-traffic spaces.

How Can We Help with Your Nashville-Area Painting Needs?

Your team at Nash Painting is here to serve you! Please take a moment to get to know us better and explore our values and local history, and then contact our office. We're excited to get your 2019 painting goals rolling!

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The First Step to Getting Out of Survival Mode – I Had to Let Go of the Fantasy

This post is an excerpt from my book Bounceback Parenting: A Field Guide for Creating Connection not Perfection. To enjoy my kids I had to come to grips with the fact that parenting would be nothing like I imagined and, in fact, many sweet, memorable moments often happen at the same time as the messy and loud moments.

Letting Go of How I Thought It Would Be

I started out parenting with stars in my eyes. I believed if I just tried hard enough I could do everything right and not make any mistakes. In fact, I built it up as the one thing I could not make mistakes in. I'd do it right! and everything would be cozy! and nice! and . . . perfect! I would be the envy of my other parent friends because I would do it “right.”

And then I had my first baby.

And oh man, everything was emotions and sleeplessness. It immediately became apparent that having a kid was not going to be just how I thought it would be. I felt jumbled and fearful; I was pretty sure I was doing it wrong, certainly not perfectly. I longed to feel competent again instead of confused.

Survival Mode

Years passed filled with ups and downs, sweetness and spit-up, and adding two more kids to our family.

I kept looking for the perfect solution to things like sleep, tantrums, eating . . . Each time I thought I had it figured out though, things would change, my kids would hit a new stage, and I'd be back to searching for another solution.

One day, I realized I was spending most of my time in survival mode, not enjoying the moment, enduring my kids rather than noticing them, and anxious the whole time that I was screwing it all up. I was worried I'd be filled with regret later if I couldn't stop feeling so frantic and exhausted.

I needed a starting place to change how I was feeling. I didn't want to spend their entire childhood in survival mode.

I thought about the brightest moments in my own childhood-they were often simple, like my mom teaching me to shuffle cards, or my dad teaching me to whistle with a blade of grass. I thought about the most treasured moments in our family life. Many of them were just as simple, and yet nothing like I thought they would be.

I'd pictured special times at our dining table doing crafts together. I didn't realize some of our best memories would instead be made when we gave up on the failed craft and, to escape the house, drove down to eat lunch while watching trains.

I was focused on the end result of activities, like swimming lessons, and didn't realize some of our most precious memories would be made on the way there, looking for prairie dogs that make their homes in the lot near the city pool.

When I thought parenting had to be perfect like the picture in my head, I hardly could enjoy the “perfectly imperfect” moments that came every day….

Field Notes: Letting GoWhat did you imagine parenting to look and feel like? What shocked you about the reality versus your expectations? Do you have parenting “fantasies” or imaginings that are getting in the way of noticing the way your family really is? Would you like to let go of any of these ideas?

For more like this check out my book, Bounceback Parenting: A Field Guide for Creating Connection not Perfection. Read more here.

The post The First Step to Getting Out of Survival Mode – I Had to Let Go of the Fantasy appeared first on Bounceback Parenting.

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DIY: Travel Inspired Art with Photoshop Elements

I'm just putting the finishing touches on my new office, and I wanted some original art on the walls. As you know I looooove to travel and I always take a lot of pictures when I'm someplace new!

Last year I visited Oahu for a week and also had weekend getaway in Maya Riviera, Mexico. I love exotic botanicals so much so I took several pictures on my trips. To remind myself of these beautiful places, I turned them into original artwork for my office using Photoshop Elements.

If you're unfamiliar with (or maybe a little intimidated by) Photoshop Elements, don't be! Photoshop Elements is a more basic version of Photoshop CC. You can download a free trial on the Adobe website and play with the filters and tools on your own to create something original from your photographs too.

Maybe you have a nice picture of your flowers blooming in summer or a nice view from a place you visited? Tweak the orignial photo and turn it into a unique piece of art!

When in Mexico for a weekend, I took this picture of these giant palms (anyone know the species?), I just loved their fan like leaves.

  In Photoshop Elements, I isolated the palm branch with the Polygonal Lasso Tool and erased everything outside of the leaves (making the bacground white) with the Eraser Tool.

    I also patched some of the leaves with the Brush and Clone Stamp tools.  I copied and pasted the isolated palm branch into a new file and made it offset with a lot of white space. Then I had the new image enlarged to 16 x 20” at my local FedEx/Kinkos.

  Easy large scale botanical art!

    I took this next photo in Oahu when I was hiking up the Pillbox trail. (Don't miss my article on cheap ways to travel in Oahu!). I loved the perspective of the botanical in the foreground and the view of the town of Kailua and the ocean below.

  I used several tools to make this new painterly version: the Cutout Filter (Filter>Artistic>Cutout) to give the photograph a painterly effect.

  I also used the Brush tool to eliminate the clouds and the little islands in the bay. I liked the idea of sky and ocean being one solid color, and leaving just the impressionist effect of the colors in the town and hills below. I also changed the hue of the color of the sky and the water with the Brush Tool and Color Picker tool.

        This exotic flower I spied while walking around Oahu, I wish I knew what kind of flower it was (anyone know?).

  I love it a vivid pink but then started playing with the Note Paper Filter which totally changed it and gave it a more abstract look.

  After that, I used the Brush Tool to eliminate all the distraction in the background, changed the background it to a soft green with the Color Picker tool, and used the Gradient Tool to give the background an ombre effect.

    Now every time I enter my office the first view is artwork I've created from places I've been. I love that so much!

  If you download a free trial of Photoshop Elements, open your image in the Photoshop Elements Editor Workspace, also make sure you're working in Expert Mode to have access to all the tools.

Just a word of encouragement if you're inexperienced with Photoshop Elements, I'm totally self taught! I've learned everything about these filters and tools just by playing with them over time. There are many different ways to take ordinary photographs and turn them into original art with this program, so give it a try!

Those of you who use PE, what are your favorite tools? Do you have any tips to share?

.

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Things Are Getting Homier At The Duplex!

Last month we shared how refinishing the floors at the duplex made us feel like we turned a major corner at a house we've been renovating for over a year (remember when it looked like this?!). And now we are firmly in “the fun part!” You know, where you get to start bringing in rugs and light fixtures and furniture and accessories so it goes from looking like a construction zone to an actual home. It's THE. BEST. Especially after months and months of expensive improvements that you don't even see when the drywall goes back up (like plumbing and electrical upgrades).

So let's just get right into it. Behold, this wall of the left side's master bedroom that we pretty much rebuilt from scratch:

bench / similar light / similar rug / walls: SW Spare White / doors: SW White Truffle

That rug is the one we originally bought for the pink house's living room (you can see it there in this post) but it often looked too dark paired with our dark sectional. But in this room with a fluffy white bed on top of it, we think it'll look worlds lighter and brighter – especially paired with our pretty pink closet doors and that capiz chandelier that we hung between them (which used to hang above our dining table in the pink house – more on that switcheroo here).

We actually added those two closets during framing because it was the largest room but it didn't have a closet at all originally. So we thought flanking the window with two of 'em added lots of storage and symmetry (whereas just one closet would take a bite out of the corner of the room and feel less balanced).

Here's the same bedroom, as you view it from the door. We can't wait to add some thick wooden shelves in that little chimney nook that we were able to expose during the renovation.

Below is a similar view of this bedroom when we bought the house. It was just a boring box, complete with a drop ceiling to hide a whole lot of mold and rot that was going on above it.

The photo below is a picture of the back bedroom on the other side (the right side of the duplex) as it looks now. Over here we reused the only set of original doors that we could salvage: these cool skinny little pine doors, complete with their original hardware.

bench / similar plant / similar light / basket / Walls: SW Spare White

They have tiny little latches on each side that stole my heart the second I saw them, along with little faux drawers at the bottom with old cup pulls. So much quirk & character!

And since they're not standard height (they're shorter than standard interior doors) we got to add cute little cubbies above them. I love how the curved baskets bring in some texture and some softness with so many rectangles going on around them. Same with the curved chandelier.

We're also pretty excited about our kitchen progress, since we worked over the holiday break to assemble both sides (not without hiccups – more on that here) but we're really happy to be mostly over that hump. The appliances are on their way, and our counters should be getting templated and installed before the end of the month. We can see the finish line!!! (Ok, and then we have to add shelves, hardware, and a bold patterned backsplash, but we're closer to the end than the beginning!)

cabinets / hood / pendant light

That's the kitchen on the right side and here we are in the adjacent mudroom/laundry room. We still need to build in that storage cabinet, but we're waiting for the stacked washer & dryer to be installed first. And those painted pocket doors (they're Oyster Bay by Sherwin Williams) lead to the kitchen, and will probably stay open most of the time. We added them in case people want to shut out the noise when laundry's going. And because they're just so dang cute.

pendant light / floor tile / walls: Spare White by SW / doors: Oyster Bay by SW

We'll also be adding lots of mudroom storage in here, like hooks and baskets galore for shoes, bathing suits, towels and all that good stuff. The outdoor showers are a few steps away from the back door that leads into this room, so this space is going to be a workhorse for sure.

Ok, but now let's take a peek at the kitchen on the left side of the duplex. We chose some moody blue-green-gray cabinets for this side, but they look bright blue here. Wait for it…

cabinets / hood / pendant light

They're still covered with a protective film that we aren't going to remove until after the appliances and counters are installed, but you can see from the piece John's holding up below that they're a lot grayer and greener underneath the film. We LOVE the color for a beach house. Feels really playful but not too out there.

This is the mudroom off of that kitchen, where we did a similar tile pattern as the other mudroom, but in a totally different colorway. We love how each side feels related to the other side – but not identical. Kinda like they're cousins but not twins. We still need quarter round trim in here (most of the other rooms are done – but we held off on this room so we can add a few built-ins and then install it).

floor tiles: pink, white, & taupe / door color: White Truffle by SW / door: secondhand find (!!!)

So those are just a few of the spaces that look SO MUCH BETTER already – even before our huge truckload of furniture arrives (yes, we're renting a giant box truck and driving things down ourselves in less than a week!). But even without all the beds and tables and sofas and chairs that are coming, we're soaking up this PROGRESS, BEAUTIFUL PROGRESS! And you know I'm counting down the days until I can share more photos with furniture and curtains and art and ALL THE THINGS!!!

P.S. To see all of our duplex progress from the very beginning, click here for around a dozen posts that'll cover a lot of ground (from buying it and floor planning to rebuilding it, tiling, and refinishing the floors).

*This post contains affiliate links*

One more P.S. – If you like blog posts, you can get an additional one each week delivered straight to your inbox – and it's free! Just sign up here (and if you'd like to see a few sample emails first, here's one, and here's another one).

The post Things Are Getting Homier At The Duplex! appeared first on Young House Love.

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Timeless and Singular Kitchen Designs

For more than a quarter century, DixonKirby has been designing and building The Welcome Home in communities throughout the Triangle.

Beautifully constructed and immediately identifiable, the DixonKirby home is warm and sure, inviting and comfortable, timeless and singular. Wherever it stands, it is often envied, regularly admired, always welcome.

Admittedly a niche design+build firm, DixonKirby's strength is designing and building the home that fits and reflects exactly you. They're serious about good design-impassioned, dedicated, maybe slightly fanatical about it. They're okay with that. Check their's amazing kitchen designs.

The post Timeless and Singular Kitchen Designs appeared first on Decoholic.

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3 Financial Resolutions To Make If You Want To Buy A Home In The New Year

The new year is right around the corner, and many people are starting to think seriously about their New Year's Resolutions. And while the most popular resolutions aren't going anywhere (eat healthy, work out, spend less time in front of a screen), if you're looking to buy a home next year, at least a few of your resolutions should be of the financial variety.

Starting the new year off on the right financial foot by making financial resolutions can set you up for success and help you get closer to your goal of buying a home. Here are four financial resolutions you should consider making if you want to buy a home in the new year:

1. Track your spending

via GIPHY

It's impossible to get a handle on your financial situation if you don't know what this situation actually is. Which is why your first financial resolution needs to be to track your spending.

Tracking your spending will give you a clear picture of how much money you're spending, where you're spending it, and where the opportunities to cut back are.

The key to successfully tracking your spending is to track every single cent you spend. You can create a spreadsheet and manually input every purchase or you can use a money monitoring app like Mint; Mint connects to your debit and credit cards and then tracks and categorizes your purchases throughout the month.

Once you've tracked your spending for a month, it's time to dive into the numbers. How much of your income are you spending on necessities (like living expenses and utilities)? How much is going towards paying down debt? How much are you saving?

It's only when you have a clear idea of your financial situation that you can determine if you're ready to buy a home - and, if so, just how much home you can afford without putting yourself in a financially challenging situation.

2. Cut out unnecessary expenses

via GIPHY

A great side effect of tracking your spending is that it allows you to see opportunities to cut back. Which leads into resolution #2: cut out any unnecessary expenses.

If you're serious about buying a home, you need to rein in unnecessary spending and pad your savings account as much as possible. Are you spending a significant amount of money every month eating out at restaurants? Commit to eating out one or two times a month and making meals at home the rest of the time to save some cash. Is your coffee habit costing you $5 a day? Brew a cup in your kitchen before you leave for work. Are you spending a fortune on a gym membership you barely use? Cancel and use free workout videos on YouTube to get your exercise. Do you pay for premium cable when you'd be fine with basic? Downgrade and lower your bill.

Now, keep in mind - even though you'll want to go into savings mode before you buy a home, that doesn't mean you shouldn't spend any money on yourself. If you don't spend any money on fun and entertainment, it can actually make it harder to stick to your budget. Allot a certain amount of money per month you can use as you please; that “fun money” will make it easier to stick to your budget the rest of the time.

The more unnecessary expenses you cut out of your budget, the more you'll have to put in your savings account - and the faster you'll be able to make your dream of owning a home a reality.

3. Clean up your credit

via GIPHY

Another financial resolution to make if you want to buy a home? Clean up your credit.

Your credit score plays a huge part in determining if you get a mortgage and, if so, how competitive your interest rates. A good credit score can save you thousands (even tens of thousands) of dollars over the course of your loan, which is why it's important to get it as high as possible before you purchase a home.

First, you'll want to get a copy of your credit report and check for any errors. Errors are more common than you'd think, and even a small mistake can drag down your score. If you find an error on your report, you'll need to contact the credit bureaus to have it removed.

Once your report is error free, it's time to do everything you can to boost your credit score. Paying down debt, paying all your bills on time, and keeping the percentage of credit used low can all help to increase your score - which will help you get a better deal on your mortgage when you apply.

There are plenty of resolutions you can make in order to hit your goals in the new year. But if your goal is to buy a house, these financial resolutions are the key to getting there.

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The post 3 Financial Resolutions To Make If You Want To Buy A Home In The New Year appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

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Can One Small Change Save You Money in 2019?

This article is from PocketSmith, one of my partners. If you choose to sign up for the service from this post, I'll receive a small commission. If you're trying to get on the right financial track, you can make a small change and save money in the long run.

  Setting big financial goals, like getting out of debt or saving for a home, can be daunting. But what if you usher in 2019 by focusing on one small change that could result in big gains financially?

Start by picking one thing you'd like to spend less on.

Then, take a moment to be curious about the reasons for the desire to change your spending habit. Do you think your curiosity will help you be more successful in making your one small change? Rather than if it was a New Year's resolution?

The answer to the latter is yes, and we'll explain why below. In the meantime, here are some examples of small changes that yield big differences and help you save money over a year:

What does curiosity have to do with change?

While change can be hard, curiosity – according to top mindfulness researcher Dr. Judson Brewer – feels good. So to effectively change a habit, you should enjoy the process by being curious about why this habit exists.

In his TED talk, Dr. Brewer suggests that you first observe yourself acting on the impulse to do the thing you want to change, then get curious! Ask yourself:

How does it feel?

What triggered the impulse?

What satisfaction does it provide?

And for how long?

Editor note: Miranda here. I love this. It's similar to finding your “why” when it comes to spending. Anytime you want to save money, spend better, and use your financial resources to improve your life, starting by answering these questions can help.

How can we apply mindfulness to changing financial habits and saving money?

If you've identified an area in which you believe you're overspending, you're already most of the way there because you don't need to justify the need for change.

Take late fees as an example. Step back and be curious about why your habitual routines cause payments to be late, and penalties to occur. From there, take achievable steps to fix that one habit – perhaps by scheduling their payments when they arrive.

And there's your small change.

Conventional wisdom tells us that if we want to achieve a goal we must try harder and work harder, but perhaps we can make those New Year's resolutions stick by trying softer!

Let's get started

Track your spending and monitor progress on your small change with PocketSmith, one of the sharpest money management tools on the Internet.

The team at PocketSmith would love to help you get there, so if you sign up for an account and Tweet or Facebook your small change to them, you could stand to win an upgrade to a one-year Super subscription worth $169.95. For example:

Hey @pocketsmith! My #SmallChangeBigGains will be buying fewer coffees each week, therefore saving $700 in 2019.

PocketSmith will pick ten of the best entries on January 9 (2019) and announce the winners on Facebook and Twitter, so get creative and share your tips! Remember to sign up, and use the #SmallChangeBigGains hashtag to qualify.

As a bonus, if you sign up for PocketSmith from here, you will get half price on the first two months of PocketSmith Premium. Plus you'll receive an email guide designed to help you track and make your #SmallChangeBigGains

Use this coupon to get 50% off the first two months of PocketSmith Premium: 50OFFPREMIUM-F4RG

To redeem this offer go to PocketSmith, set up a free account and apply the coupon in the app via Settings>Subscriptions and Upgrades>Enter coupon. Then enter your payment details, and you are set to go.

Can One Small Change Save You Money in 2019? appeared first on Planting Money Seeds.