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Your Complete Career Guide to Becoming a Water Damage Restoration Technician

It's more than a job:

It's a career path that leads to helping residents when they need it most. As a water damage restoration technician, you're positioned to assist home and business owners recover their property, their belongings and their peace of mind.

This exciting field is wide open to both men and women. The work can be hard. The projects can be long-term. The satisfaction that comes from helping others through difficult times is always rewarding.

With this guide, we lay out an overview of the information you need to make a meaningful career choice. We cover it all from general qualifications and hands-on training to course studies and industry certification.

Water Restoration Technician Job Description

Your job as a WRT puts you in the field tackling all types of water mitigation projects. You're part of a team of highly trained technicians restoring water-damaged properties and personal belongings.

Most scheduling happens within the bounds of a normal work week, and you're sometimes on emergency standby. The restoration business serves customers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

These are examples of the different processes you handle in your role as a certified water restoration technician.

• Advanced equipment setup and operation • Heavy-duty water removal and extraction • Property cleanup including sanitation processes • Site-wide structural drying and dehumidifying • Recovery of salvageable personal belongings • Damaged material tear-out and replacement • Property-wide reconstruction and restoration

Becoming a WRT doesn't require a professional trade license. However, once you've completed your training, we highly recommended that you follow through with industry-approved certification.

What Does Water Damage Restoration Technician Training Offer?

Water damage restoration training involves course studies and hands-on field experience.

As you advance through various learning stages, you become familiar with the science behind the work. For example, you understand the importance of psychrometry and how it applies to the restoration process.

Study courses cover a variety of procedures including dealing with hazardous sewage backups and black water contamination. You learn the full effects of all types of water damage, how to handle different projects and the requirements for WRT certification.

On-the-job training maximizes your understanding of course studies. In the field, you partner with experienced technicians who explain the details involved in water extraction, containment and cleanup. You soon become confident in your abilities to tackle any job from emergency dispatch and damage assessment to final restoration.

What Does IICRC Certification Mean and Why Is It Important?

The Institution of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification is recognized for promoting professionalism and establishing the highest standards across our industry. The IICRC supports more than 50,000 certified technicians and 6,000 businesses around the globe.

Successful certification is based on course completion, written examination and skill demonstration. By fulfilling IICRC requirements for WRT certification, you establish your credentials as an expert in water damage restoration.

When you become an IICRC-certified technician, you have documentation of your experience, training and understanding of water damage restoration procedures. It's not a requirement for working in this field, but it does give you a big advantage over technicians who don't have industry-approved certification.

How Much Does a Water Damage Restoration Technician Make?

Established, reputable restoration companies always offer fair hourly wages. They also consider IICRC certification as a valuable asset on your resume. In general, WRT jobs average an hourly pay rate of $14. Highly experienced technicians can earn an average of $20 or more per hour.

Water damage restoration often involves extra hours on the clock, and that results in overtime pay. When a technician goes above and beyond job expectations, it's not unusual for customers to offer their appreciation with cash tips.

You increase your earnings by developing your job skills in the field and expanding your industry knowledge with ongoing education. You might advance into a leadership role with a salary of $60,000 or more per year.

Who Benefits From Your Hard Work?

Every day, you assist people who face the aftermath of water damage to their property and belongings. It can be a very stressful time for home or business owners, but your skills and professionalism help them regain their sense of well-being. These are just a few examples of the settings you encounter as a water restoration technician.

• Homes and condos • Apartment buildings • Retail complexes • Office buildings • Restaurants and hotels • Health care facilities • Public and private schools • Government buildings • Sporting and event facilities

Why Should You Make WRT a Career?

The restoration business continues to grow every year, and that helps build job security into your career.

If you enjoy working with your hands and your head, you look forward to projects that keep your skills sharp. If you enjoy helping other people, you take home the satisfaction of making a positive difference every day.

Working as a WRT offers on-the-job experiences that set the profession apart from other trades. Last year, our teams headed to Texas after Hurricane Harvey where we took care of home and business owners all along the Gulf Coast. From there, we headed to Florida to assist residents through the aftermath Hurricane Irma. It was exhausting work, but it was also very rewarding professionally and personally.

As a water damage restoration technician, you're in a unique position to help people recover more than their property:

You help them regain their peace of mind, and that always makes the job worthwhile.

Where Do You Get Started?

If you're in the Chicago area, we invite you to contact us for more information about your career as a WRT. You can also find information online about IICRC certification classes in your city.

We're proud to be leading members of the industry with our certified water damage restoration services in Chicago and the suburbs. It's our pleasure to share our knowledge and enthusiasm, so feel free to give us a call here at ServiceMaster by Zaba.

The post Your Complete Career Guide to Becoming a Water Damage Restoration Technician appeared first on ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba.

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Whole Grain Vegan Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Baking tends to get a lot of attention in the weeks leading up to the winter holidays, yet it's often overlooked in January. Perhaps this is because the holidays are regarded as a time to celebrate and indulge, while the arrival of a new year prompts a lot of focus on healthful eating. In my mind, though, baked treats are a part of the balanced picture that constitutes a healthful diet. And it's easy to craft baked goods with quality, wholesome ingredients.

These cookies are the best of both worlds: sweet, chewy, and studded with dark chocolate, yet also created with One Degree Sprouted Spelt Flour and Sprouted Quick Oats for fiber-rich, whole grain goodness.

Banana, along with ground flax meal, replaces egg, so the cookies are easily dairy-free and vegan. They're kid friendly, easy to prepare with everyday ingredients, and absolutely delicious. In the past year, my schedule has shifted to necessitate packed lunches every weekday. Including a few of these cookies as afternoon snacks or lunchtime desserts has brought a lot of brightness to otherwise long afternoons.

There's no collection of baking ingredients I'd rather use and support than One Degree Organics; I love the brand's commitment to supporting local farmers and sustainable agriculture, and its breads and cereals have been favorites in my home for years. The Sprouted Quick Oats thicken these cookies perfectly, and of course whatever's left in the bag can be used in future wholesome breakfasts. You can substitute rolled oats if that's what you have, though I think the texture of quick oats is better for a chewy, tender cookie.

I've had mixed luck with spelt flour as a baking ingredient; typically I need to use light spelt to get the tender crumb and lightness I'm looking for in muffins, cookies, and the like. The One Degree Sprouted Spelt Flour worked every bit as well as light spelt usually does, which is a happy new discovery for me. I can't wait to try it in cakes and quick breads. For now, I'll savor it in cookie form-maybe with a glass of soy milk for dunking.

You can check out the full recipe on the One Degree Organics website by clicking here.

Enjoy, friends! And I'll be back later this week with a new non-recipe recipe: this time, an easy, hearty vegan pasta supper.

xo

 The post Whole Grain Vegan Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies appeared first on The Full Helping.

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Why You Should Start Adding Sinking Funds To Your Financial Plan

Why You Should Start Adding Sinking Funds To Your Financial Plan is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

Your washer breaks down and you need a new one. Or in my case, the furnace is near the end of it's life and you need to replace it soon. A brand new furnace can run anywhere from $600 to $2,000.

How would you handle the extra but necessary expense? Instead of using a credit card or borrowing money from others, you can establish sinking funds to help cover the costs.

What Are Sinking Funds?

A sinking fund is a fund formed by periodically setting aside money for the gradual repayment of a debt or replacing of a wasting asset. In other words, you can have one of more sinking funds. Each one represents a savings bucket for a specific planned expense.

Many people confuse sinking funds with emergency funds or believe you only need to have one emergency savings account. Here are a few reasons why you should abandon that thinking and start adding sinking funds to your financial plan.

It's Not the Same as an Emergency Fund

Having a sinking fund is not the same as having an emergency fund. If you're using both accounts interchangeably, you're doing it wrong. An emergency fund can provide financial relief in the event of an unexpected event or emergency.

Let's say you have a medical emergency and can't return to work for a few days. Or, you lose your job with no notice. These are true emergencies and expenses you had no idea would occur.

You can't prepare for them specifically since you don't know they're happening. You can only start stashing away money to cover any unexpected expense when it pops up.

With sinking funds, you're saving up money for planned expenses. You know the expense is coming up but it can still take you by surprise and ruin your budget if you don't prepare accordingly.

Some people use sinking funds to save for Christmas, new furniture, a new car, birthdays, etc. When you don't set up sinking funds to cover these expenses, they can often seem like emergencies when they occur since you don't have the money on hand and need to come up with it quickly.

This is why it's best to have both an emergency fund and sinking funds so you can cover all your bases.

Become More Prepared For the Expected

We now know that sinking funds allow you to become more prepared for the expected. Let's go into more detail on how this helps you. You probably already have some type of budget or spending plan for your money.

Your first step with developing a sinking fund is acknowledging the planned expense. Then, you'll determine how much you need and when you'd like to have the money saved. Coming up with a clear plan helps you budget more efficiently. You can now develop a savings category for the sinking fund and budget for it monthly.

By being prepared for the expected, you'll avoid drawbacks like paying late fees or even losing benefits like insurance for example. Plus, it won't throw off your budget severely.

For example, both my husband and I have cars that need new registration stickers each year. They are $100 each and mine is due in April while his is due in May. Without it, we'd risk getting a ticket or paying a penalty for getting our stickers late.

We decided to develop a sinking fund for this expense because $200 of extra expenses could easily throw our budget off in the spring. We'd only have to set a small amount of money aside each month for the year, but this easy preparation would pay off when our registration is due.

By being prepared for the expected, you'll avoid drawbacks like paying late fees or even losing benefits. Click To Tweet

Avoid Having to Borrow Money or Take Out Loans

Another reason why you should add sinking funds to your financial plan is to avoid debt. Using credit cards or loans to serve as an emergency fund or sinking fund is not acceptable and will only provide temporary relief.

When you think about it, using a credit card or taking out a loan to pay for an expense you can't afford means you don't have the money in the first place. How will you then manage to pay back the money plus interest? You can clearly see that borrowing money you can't really afford to repay just puts you deeper int he hole.

I can't even mention enough how great it feels to be able to pay for Christmas in cash as we've been able to do the past few years. The same goes with being able to pay for our wedding in cash along with birthday parties for our son.

Having the money you need on hand helps you avoid unwanted debt. In turn, you have the opportunity to get ahead faster.

You're Probably Already Using Sinking Funds

Let's face it. Sinking funds are nothing new. In fact, you're probably already using them in one capacity or another and just don't realize it. Have you ever saved up for a vacation? Many of us have and this is an example of using a sinking fund.

You see, you're already planning to set aside money for planned expenses even though they may be for fun or leisure activities. Maybe you have a concert for your favorite recording artist coming up and start to plan out your paychecks over the next few weeks.

Why not formalize this method of financial planning and establish a few core sinking funds to help you plan for other expenses? You can create sinking funds for any planned expense that you'd rather start saving for in advance.

I have sinking funds for

Christmas

Birthdays

House maintenance

Car maintenance and a new car

Our car registration

Travel

I'd recommend starting with 1-3 core sinking fund categories. That way, you don't spread yourself too thin. Consider opening an online savings account that will allow you to open several connected accounts for free. I like CapitalOne 360 because they have no fees and you can open up to 25 different savings accounts and nickname them for free.

Have you ever thought about using sinking funds? Which one of these benefits would best serve you?

    Why You Should Start Adding Sinking Funds To Your Financial Plan is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

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crispy rice and egg bowl with ginger-scallion vinaigrette

It's really unfortunate timing, because we've got a long year to go and I at one point had many great and luminous cooking plans for it, but they're all cancelled now because on the afternoon of January 4th, before 2019 had really even kicked in, I ate the best thing I had or will all year or maybe ever - because what would the internet be without some unnecessary melodrama - and I threw it together from a mess of leftovers in my fridge.

Don't you hate it when those lifestyle guru-types tell you about the meals they threw together from their leftovers, which just happen to be in tip-top shape, chromatically balanced, and Instagram-perfect. In real life, or at least mine, leftovers are a lot of Let's Never Speak About That Again, the best of intentions cut short by poor planning, the now shamed and guilt-ridden humans responsible for the disgrace vowing to do better by that murky bag of herbs and liquefied cucumber next time.

But not last week. Last week, on January 1st, I made David Chang's Bo Ssam, something I do once a year or so when I want to make a jaw-dropping feast for a crowd with exactly three ingredients (pork shoulder, salt, sugar) even a person living through the aftereffects of an evening of daquiris can handle. Of course, because most three-ingredient recipes are a lie, there are a few other things you make to serve with it: a Ssam sauce (it's like a vinaigrette), a ginger-scallion sauce (a riff on the classic Cantonese sauce), rice, and I always like to serve it with marinated julienned carrots and thinly sliced cucumbers so needless to say, these leftovers were well above-average. Bo Ssam makes a lot; we ate it on the 1st, the 2nd, and the 3rd before we were finally out of pork, but I still had a smidge left of everything else so for lunch on that 4th day of the year, I put it all in a bowl and topped it with a crispy fried egg.

Read more »

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Why Seeing Ants in Your Home in Winter Could Mean Serious Problems

You are used to seeing ants scurrying around your patio or driveway, ant hills protruding out of your grass, and even ants who've made their way into your home marching in a trail toward your pantry in warm months. Seeing ants in your home in New England in the winter could signal a serious problem, though.

What Happens to Ants in Winter

In the winter months, most ants go into hibernation mode. Their body temperatures drop and they become sluggish. They prepare their colony for winter, sealing up their ant holes and burrowing into the warmer ground or behind tree bark.

How Ants Survive the Winter

Unlike humans, ants can go for a long time without food. They eat a lot of food in the fall to fatten up and prepare for winter. They huddle in groups to stay warm and protect the queen in a dormant state.

What It Means if You See Ants in the Winter

If you see ants outdoors in the winter, it's likely there's been a warm spell that tricked them into coming out to seek food. Once the temperatures drop again, they will go back into hibernation.

If you are seeing ants inside your home in the winter, it likely means that they've formed a colony inside somewhere. While they won't come indoors from outside in the winter, they will certainly remain active if they are already there.

Why You Should Call in the Professionals

While ants in your home at any time of the year becomes a nuisance that you don't want to deal with, ants in your home in the winter is a much bigger problem. Having an ant colony infest your walls, attic, basement, or even pantry, can be damaging to your family and home. At a minimum, ants can invade your pantry and spoil your food. At worst, some ants, like carpenter ants, can actually cause structural damage.

Our professional technicians are experts in dealing with ants in New England homes. We will work with you on exclusion techniques to eradicate the colony and rid your home of these pesky ants. Call us as soon as possible if you suspect a winter ant infestation!

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2018 Roundup: Bee Saving Paper, Solar Dog Houses, Home and Garden Makeover, Bomb Detection by Plants, 3D Printed Flowers, Compostable Couture…

You let us know what some of your 2018 favorites were: Bee Saving Paper, Solar Dog Houses, Home and Garden Makeover, Bomb Detection by Plants, 3D Printed Flowers, Compostable Couture, and much, much, more. Here are 20 of 2018's most … Read More...

The post 2018 Roundup: Bee Saving Paper, Solar Dog Houses, Home and Garden Makeover, Bomb Detection by Plants, 3D Printed Flowers, Compostable Couture… appeared first on Urban Gardens.

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Landscaping Stone Borders Around Flower Beds

Stone Border Around Flower Bed

Austin Chopped Stone with a Flagstone Cap

Landscaping Stone Borders

Austin Chopped Stone Borders with Flagstone Cap around Flower Beds Landscaping Project

Stone Wall Borders

Raised flower beds with stone wall borders

Raised Flower Bed Landscaping

Landscaping stone walls border on raised flower beds

Curved Stone Borders

Flower bed island with curved stone border all the way around.

Flower Bed Landscaping

Landscaping stone borders around flower bed

Stone Border Around Pond

Landscaping a Pond with Stone Borders in Back Yard

Mulching Flower Beds with Stone Borders

Adding mulch to flower bed with stone borders

Large Stone Divider

Large stones dividing a garden bed landscaping

Large Rocks Border

Landscaping flower bed with large rocks as border

Flat Brick Stone Borders

Flat stone borders around flower beds

Stone Border Around Tree Bed

Tree and Flower Bed with Stone Border Landscaping

Stone Retaining Wall

Landscaping a Stone Retaining Wall Around Flower Bed

  Get Stone Borders Installed

Request Quote

When you feel stressed, and you need a place to have a significant relaxation, your outdoor area will always serve as a perfect spot. So, investing in improving the look of your landscape is a fantastic treat for yourself.

Nature's view has its unique and effective way of providing you a valuable tranquility. It can even make it easier for you to forget all the negative vibes around.

After a busy weekday, it is ideal to put an effort visiting your garden area and recharge yourself. To make this more effective, providing your flower beds with landscape stone border can improve your experience.

Here, you will be able to learn different ideas for your next landscape stone border project. So, how are you going to choose the right stone  for your flower beds.

Type of Edging Stones for Borders

There are different types of stone to choose from and each type has its unique characteristics.  We can generally install any type of stone you prefer, but what we usually like to recommend is listed below:

Austin Chopped Stone

Oklahoma Chopped Stone

Leauders Chopped Stone

Boulder Moss Stones

Shape and Texture

Natural stones are known for its rounded shape resulted from long exposure to water in the streams, rivers, lakes or ocean. Manufactured stones provide a shape which is intended to imitate the appearance of natural stones. You have no trouble choosing the best stones for your flower bed landscaping because there is already a wide variety of man-made stone that provides organic and attractive look. Thus, it offers a uniform size and shape, with various color options.

With the help of a different type of landscape stone, it is made easier for you to create a more attractive look for your flower bed.

Artistic Medium

When you are deciding for landscape stone border design, you can play with your imagination. You may come up with a rock garden theme where you can use stones with a natural round shape and then choose plants that can enhance the overall look.

Different Rock Features

Landscape stones can be you to different landscape ideas where you can take advantage of different stone features to fulfill your creativity. In building a stone border, you can use either collection of pebbles and smaller stones or larger sizes within the gabion cages. This provides an attractive look while staying functional as a retaining wall.

Learn how to build a stone retaining wall – pdf

Water Feature Accent

Landscape stones are attractive and artistically dry. However, if you combine it with a water feature, its beauty, color, and texture become full of life. For a natural look for your flower bed, you can use paddle stones because of its neutral colors. Thus, they are quite flexible when it comes to creating natural mosaic designs.

There is no way for you not to try a landscape stone border to create an attractive and unique look for your flower bed. The next time that you will visit your garden, you will get more satisfaction with the view.

For help with installing stone borders around your flower beds contact JC's Landscaping for a free estimate.

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The post Landscaping Stone Borders Around Flower Beds appeared first on JC's Landscaping LLC.

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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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Top 10 Posts of 2018

I always get a little nostalgic at the beginning of a new year and enjoy reflecting back on the year that has past.  As always, I continue to be amazed at the opportunities that this blog provides for our family and I'm so grateful for everyone that has supported me on this blogging journey. This blog would be nothing without YOU!

Top Blog Posts of 2018

I'm continuously looking for ways to improve the blog and serve you guys better. It totally makes my day when you email me or comment on my posts and I absolutely LOVE getting your input.  Since I don't always hear from you though, I often look at what posts are the most popular and try to plan some additional blog content around those topics.  Sometimes it surprises me!

This year, many of your favorite cleaning tips and organization posts from years' past continue to stay in the top 10, along with a couple of fun holiday projects.  The home decor posts didn't quite make it into the top 10 but they were close!  So here they are – the top 10 blog posts of 2018!

Number 10: The January Decluttering Challenge

If you're ready for a clean and decluttered start to the new year, join in my January decluttering challenge! I know many of you joined me last year and I hope even more join in this year.  The post has been updated with all of the 2019 free organization printables for you, so feel free to join in.  It's never too late!

Number 9: Family Binder Budgeting Printables

If you're looking to get your budget on track after the holidays, these printables are a great way to keep track of where your money is going.  Get started on the road to financial success!

Number 8: Turkey Treats

These little turkey treats have been a Thanksgiving favorite for a few years now and they've received over 15 million views on my Facebook page!

Number 7: Eleven Daily Habits to Keep Your House Clean and Tidy

It can be hard to keep up with all of the daily cleaning around your house, but these simple habits can make it so much easier!

Number 6: How to Clean Upholstered Chairs and Other Upholstery

If your upholstery is looking stained and dingy, give these cleaning tips a try. You'll be amazed at how clean they can get!

Number 5: How to Remove Burned Food from Pots

This is always a favorite – especially after the holidays!  This tip works great for really bad burned on food as well as just a good pot cleaning after a busy cooking season.

Number 4: Ten Things to Clean After the Flu

No one likes it when the flu comes to visit! Follow these cleaning tips to get your home clean and disinfected, and help it from spreading to everyone else in the household.

Number 3: Popsicle Stick Sleds

These are one of my favorite craft projects and I love seeing how everyone puts their own spin it!  I even added some popsicle stick skis this year!

Number 2: How to Organize Bills – Bill Payment Tracker Printables

I've used these bill tracking printables for a few years now and I have found them SO helpful!  Now that many of our bills are just sent electronically I find them even more helpful to keep track of what I have {and haven't!} paid.

      Number 1: How to Clean your Washing Machine

This post has been my number one post for 4 years running!  There are lots of helpful tips to get your front loader looking and working its best. You might just love your front loader again!

And there you have it – the top 10 blog posts of 2018!  Thank-you again for such a wonderful year and I look forward to connecting with you more in the year ahead. As always, please let me know if there are any specific post ideas that would be helpful for you.  I love to hear from you and I hope that we can continue to build this little community together.

Top Home and DIY Bloggers Best Posts

If you're looking for more home and DIY inspiration, please take a minute to check out my DIY and Home blogger friends' top posts from 2018! This is the very best the web has to offer and you're sure to find some amazing ideas!

TIDBITS | Miss Mustard Seed | Farmhouse on Boone | Maison De Pax | A Burst of Beautiful

Simply Designing | Bless'er House | Taryn Whiteaker Designs | Designthusiasm | Unskinny Boppy

Live Laugh Rowe | Kendra John Designs | House by Hoff | So Much Better With Age | Life On Virginia Street

ZDesign At Home | Town and Country Living | Shabbyfufu | Happy Happy Nester | Stacy Risenmay

Cherished bliss | Clean and Scentsible | anderson + grant | The Happy Housie | Summer Adams

Decor Gold Designs | Maison de Cinq | Seeking Lavender Lane

The post Top 10 Posts of 2018 appeared first on Clean and Scentsible.

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Our Holiday Wish List for You

It's that time of year again! So many pleasant things are happening: the holidays, lots of good food, parties to attend, gifts to give, and visits with friends and family. You might also be reminded that it's finally time to make plans to re-do the kitchen, update the baths, or finish the basement.

Your family budget is probably another big thing that's on your mind this time of year. When it comes to updating their home, many homeowners think that getting good design puts remodeling out of reach. The truth is that a high-quality, well-designed project is a great investment that can actually save you money in the long run.

What's on Our List?

The items on our wish list for you – this holiday season AND all year long – are probably on your remodeling wish list, too. Your lifestyle requirements and budget are at the top. We take a look not only at the budget, but also at creative design possibilities that make the most of everything in the remodeled space: from traffic flow and natural light to storage space and style.

Here are three ways we check our list to stretch your remodeling budget:

1. Thoughtful Space Planning

Intelligent space planning carves the most from every square inch of the remodeled space. It rewards you with a home that is designed specifically to fit your lifestyle and needs. You don't want to spend money on a beautiful kitchen remodel only to find out that there is no place for a trash can or the dog's bowl.

Custom kitchen by Merrill Contracting & Remodeling

Space planning can also work magic in reclaiming “lost” space. The space between wall studs can become a niche that displays a favorite piece of artwork or provides an extra bit of storage in a small bathroom. A blank wall in the kitchen might be just enough room for a row of narrow cabinets, perfect for a beverage station or for stashing holiday china and serving pieces.

2. Design Savvy

With good design, any remodeling budget can buy major style. Here's an example: you may love the look of a certain kind of tile, but it's priced out of reach. With some clever design, however, you can enjoy that expensive look for less. It's possible to get an upscale look on a modest budget by combining handsome, budget-friendly tiles with sparing use of high-end accent tiles.

Custom kitchen by Merrill Contracting & Remodeling

3. Products and Priorities

Because we know what products are available and how they work in real-world homes, we can help you spend your remodeling dollars most efficiently. We know what is fabulous and what is a flop! We can also help you get those special, extra items you crave. For example, if it's a priority to have a commercial-style range, we can show you how to include it and still stay within budget by scaling down on your cabinet choice without sacrificing your new kitchen's high-quality look and feel.

Remember, it's the choice of appliances, fixtures, and finishes that can eat up the budget quickly. We can guide you in making selections that don't cost more, but it will help assure that you end up with the features, functionality, and quality you need, and creativity you want.

It won't be long before the holiday gift list is replaced by your list of New Year's Resolutions to clean up and fix up your home. So, when January arrives and you find yourself pondering how to update your home before the next holiday season rolls around, call us and check out our wish list for helping you get the most from your remodeling investment!

Thinking about remodeling? Contact us for a free project consultation

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Chicken Cacciatore Slow Cooker Recipe

Start your week off right and meal prep this chicken cacciatore slow cooker recipe! It has all of the traditional and savory flavors of chicken cacciatore, but it's ready in no time with very few steps! Eat it alone or over your favorite pasta! All About Chicken Cacciatore- An Italian ...

The post Chicken Cacciatore Slow Cooker Recipe appeared first on Fit Foodie Finds.

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Top 10 Posts of 2018

I always get a little nostalgic at the beginning of a new year and enjoy reflecting back on the year that has past.  As always, I continue to be amazed at the opportunities that this blog provides for our family and I'm so grateful for everyone that has supported me on this blogging journey. This blog would be nothing without YOU!

Top Blog Posts of 2018

I'm continuously looking for ways to improve the blog and serve you guys better. It totally makes my day when you email me or comment on my posts and I absolutely LOVE getting your input.  Since I don't always hear from you though, I often look at what posts are the most popular and try to plan some additional blog content around those topics.  Sometimes it surprises me!

This year, many of your favorite cleaning tips and organization posts from years' past continue to stay in the top 10, along with a couple of fun holiday projects.  The home decor posts didn't quite make it into the top 10 but they were close!  So here they are – the top 10 blog posts of 2018!

Number 10: The January Decluttering Challenge

If you're ready for a clean and decluttered start to the new year, join in my January decluttering challenge! I know many of you joined me last year and I hope even more join in this year.  The post has been updated with all of the 2019 free organization printables for you, so feel free to join in.  It's never too late!

Number 9: Family Binder Budgeting Printables

If you're looking to get your budget on track after the holidays, these printables are a great way to keep track of where your money is going.  Get started on the road to financial success!

Number 8: Turkey Treats

These little turkey treats have been a Thanksgiving favorite for a few years now and they've received over 15 million views on my Facebook page!

Number 7: Eleven Daily Habits to Keep Your House Clean and Tidy

It can be hard to keep up with all of the daily cleaning around your house, but these simple habits can make it so much easier!

Number 6: How to Clean Upholstered Chairs and Other Upholstery

If your upholstery is looking stained and dingy, give these cleaning tips a try. You'll be amazed at how clean they can get!

Number 5: How to Remove Burned Food from Pots

This is always a favorite – especially after the holidays!  This tip works great for really bad burned on food as well as just a good pot cleaning after a busy cooking season.

Number 4: Ten Things to Clean After the Flu

No one likes it when the flu comes to visit! Follow these cleaning tips to get your home clean and disinfected, and help it from spreading to everyone else in the household.

Number 3: Popsicle Stick Sleds

These are one of my favorite craft projects and I love seeing how everyone puts their own spin it!  I even added some popsicle stick skis this year!

Number 2: How to Organize Bills – Bill Payment Tracker Printables

I've used these bill tracking printables for a few years now and I have found them SO helpful!  Now that many of our bills are just sent electronically I find them even more helpful to keep track of what I have {and haven't!} paid.

      Number 1: How to Clean your Washing Machine

This post has been my number one post for 4 years running!  There are lots of helpful tips to get your front loader looking and working its best. You might just love your front loader again!

And there you have it – the top 10 blog posts of 2018!  Thank-you again for such a wonderful year and I look forward to connecting with you more in the year ahead. As always, please let me know if there are any specific post ideas that would be helpful for you.  I love to hear from you and I hope that we can continue to build this little community together.

Top Home and DIY Bloggers Best Posts

If you're looking for more home and DIY inspiration, please take a minute to check out my DIY and Home blogger friends' top posts from 2018! This is the very best the web has to offer and you're sure to find some amazing ideas!

TIDBITS | Miss Mustard Seed | Farmhouse on Boone | Maison De Pax | A Burst of Beautiful

Simply Designing | Bless'er House | Taryn Whiteaker Designs | Designthusiasm | Unskinny Boppy

Live Laugh Rowe | Kendra John Designs | House by Hoff | So Much Better With Age | Life On Virginia Street

ZDesign At Home | Town and Country Living | Shabbyfufu | Happy Happy Nester | Stacy Risenmay

Cherished bliss | Clean and Scentsible | anderson + grant | The Happy Housie | Summer Adams

Decor Gold Designs | Maison de Cinq | Seeking Lavender Lane

The post Top 10 Posts of 2018 appeared first on Clean and Scentsible.

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What Should be Your Cleaning Schedule

How can you make a house cleaning schedule? Cleaning schedules can help you to know what needs to be cleaned and how often it should be cleaned. A good house cleaning schedule makes it a lot easier to set with daily, weekly, monthly and yearly cleaning tasks. A cleaning schedule is an easy and effective way of maintaining all equipment regularly. Some items in a cleaning schedule require to be cleaning more than once a day, for example, kitchen cleaning, garbage of our house. Other items can be done once a week like home furniture cleaning, dust cleaning etc. In weekly cleaning, you can schedule bedroom cleaning as a major part. If you want to schedule your home cleaning with a maid cleaning service you can follow this.

The post What Should be Your Cleaning Schedule appeared first on .

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Crochet Cat Bed- How to Make a Cat Bed with Chunky Crochet

You kitties will love this crochet cat bed made with super-soft chunky yarn. This free cat bed pattern can be completed in just an hour. All you need is thick yarn from the craft store and a giant crochet needle.  This crochet cat bed is a purrr-fect project for beginner crocheters. Read on to learn how to make one yourself!

Crochet Cat Bed 

Hey Gnomies,

Today I'm sharing a cute cat bed that I made for my mom and dad's kitties. The cute cat you see above is Flo and she is the sweetest little cat. For this project I used the Ginormous (actual name) yarn from Michaels and a gigantic crochet hook.

Giant yarn for crochet cat bed

This cat bed uses a similar pattern to the crochet face scrubbie I shared recently.

The thing I love about crochet is that once you have learned some of the basic stitches, you can come up with all sorts of cool projects just by modifying the patterns that you already know.

Supplies for crochet cat bed:

1 skein of Ginormous yarn

1 giant crochet hook

I bought the yarn and hook at Michaels. They had an area in the store devoted to the giant yarn, crochet and knitting supplies over the holidays but you can purchase it through my amazon link below:

.The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Thank you for being part of Crafty Little Gnome

Giant Crochet Yarn

Buy It Now

Giant Crochet Hook

buy it now

You may also like: Diy Dog Proof Litter Box

Directions for crochet cat bed:

Chain two and double crochet 5 times into the first chain.

Slip stitch and chain two.

Double crochet into each of the chains.

Once your work your way around, slip stitch and chain two again.

Double crochet into each of the chains.

Repeat rows until the bottom of the cat bed is as wide as you would like it. I made mine just over 12 inches.

Next, instead of crocheting twice into each stitch, just double crochet once. This will give the bed “sides” and make it taller instead of continuing to get wider.

Once it's tall enough, about 3 rows high, finish off the top edge with single crochet.

You may also like: DIY Dog Dry Shampoo

If you need help with the crochet stitches, here is a video I found on YouTube to help you out: 

finished crochet cat bed

At first I was concerned that the cat bed would not be big enough, then I remembered that cats like to jam themselves into tiny boxes and other small spaces. If you aren't sure, err on the side of making it too small. That will be sure to attract your favorite cat.

  This is my old cat Mylo. This picture is about 10 years old. Way back in the day when I lived in my old apartment he decided my file folder was a great place to take a nap.

DIY Crochet Cat Bed Q&A: 

How do you know what size crochet hook to use?

Use the hook size recommended in your crochet pattern. Always check your gauge with a swatch. Change to a smaller hook if your stitches are too loose or a larger hook if they are too tight. 

How do you introduce a cat to a new bed?

Observe where your cat likes to sleep. Paying attention to where your cat likes to sleep will help you find a good spot for its bed. 

Place the bed in a low traffic area. 

Put some of her toys in the new bed. 

Elevate the bed or go with a perch if your cat likes height. 

Try a new spot if your cat ignores its bed.

  How do I get my cat to sleep in her bed?

Once your cat steps into the bed, hold a treat over his head until he sits down. Praise him and give him the treat when he does. Leave some treats in your cat's bed so he is tempted to come back to it. You can also try sprinkling catnip in the bed to get your kitty interested in it.

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Yield: 1 Cat Bed

Crochet Cat Bed- How to Make a Cat Bed with Chunky Crochet

Print

Make a DIY crochet cat bed from chunky giant yarn.

Active Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour

Difficulty Intermediate

Estimated Cost 15

Materials

Chunky yarn

Tools

Giant crochet hook

Instructions

Chain two and double crochet 5 times into the first chain.

Slip stitch and chain two.

Double crochet into each of the chains.

Once your work your way around, slip stitch and chain two again.

Double crochet into each of the chains.

Repeat rows until the bottom of the cat bed is as wide as you would like it. I made mine just over 12 inches.

Next, instead of crocheting twice into each stitch, just double crochet once. This will give the bed "sides" and make it taller instead of continuing to get wider.

Once it's tall enough, about 3 rows high, finish off the top edge with single crochet.

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© adrienne

Project Type: Fiber art and sewing

Have you tried making a DIY crochet cat bed? Please share your tips in the comments! 

The post Crochet Cat Bed- How to Make a Cat Bed with Chunky Crochet appeared first on Crafty Little Gnome.

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Why You Should Start Adding Sinking Funds To Your Financial Plan

Why You Should Start Adding Sinking Funds To Your Financial Plan is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

Your washer breaks down and you need a new one. Or in my case, the furnace is near the end of it's life and you need to replace it soon. A brand new furnace can run anywhere from $600 to $2,000.

How would you handle the extra but necessary expense? Instead of using a credit card or borrowing money from others, you can establish sinking funds to help cover the costs.

What Are Sinking Funds?

A sinking fund is a fund formed by periodically setting aside money for the gradual repayment of a debt or replacing of a wasting asset. In other words, you can have one of more sinking funds. Each one represents a savings bucket for a specific planned expense.

Many people confuse sinking funds with emergency funds or believe you only need to have one emergency savings account. Here are a few reasons why you should abandon that thinking and start adding sinking funds to your financial plan.

It's Not the Same as an Emergency Fund

Having a sinking fund is not the same as having an emergency fund. If you're using both accounts interchangeably, you're doing it wrong. An emergency fund can provide financial relief in the event of an unexpected event or emergency.

Let's say you have a medical emergency and can't return to work for a few days. Or, you lose your job with no notice. These are true emergencies and expenses you had no idea would occur.

You can't prepare for them specifically since you don't know they're happening. You can only start stashing away money to cover any unexpected expense when it pops up.

With sinking funds, you're saving up money for planned expenses. You know the expense is coming up but it can still take you by surprise and ruin your budget if you don't prepare accordingly.

Some people use sinking funds to save for Christmas, new furniture, a new car, birthdays, etc. When you don't set up sinking funds to cover these expenses, they can often seem like emergencies when they occur since you don't have the money on hand and need to come up with it quickly.

This is why it's best to have both an emergency fund and sinking funds so you can cover all your bases.

Become More Prepared For the Expected

We now know that sinking funds allow you to become more prepared for the expected. Let's go into more detail on how this helps you. You probably already have some type of budget or spending plan for your money.

Your first step with developing a sinking fund is acknowledging the planned expense. Then, you'll determine how much you need and when you'd like to have the money saved. Coming up with a clear plan helps you budget more efficiently. You can now develop a savings category for the sinking fund and budget for it monthly.

By being prepared for the expected, you'll avoid drawbacks like paying late fees or even losing benefits like insurance for example. Plus, it won't throw off your budget severely.

For example, both my husband and I have cars that need new registration stickers each year. They are $100 each and mine is due in April while his is due in May. Without it, we'd risk getting a ticket or paying a penalty for getting our stickers late.

We decided to develop a sinking fund for this expense because $200 of extra expenses could easily throw our budget off in the spring. We'd only have to set a small amount of money aside each month for the year, but this easy preparation would pay off when our registration is due.

By being prepared for the expected, you'll avoid drawbacks like paying late fees or even losing benefits. Click To Tweet

Avoid Having to Borrow Money or Take Out Loans

Another reason why you should add sinking funds to your financial plan is to avoid debt. Using credit cards or loans to serve as an emergency fund or sinking fund is not acceptable and will only provide temporary relief.

When you think about it, using a credit card or taking out a loan to pay for an expense you can't afford means you don't have the money in the first place. How will you then manage to pay back the money plus interest? You can clearly see that borrowing money you can't really afford to repay just puts you deeper int he hole.

I can't even mention enough how great it feels to be able to pay for Christmas in cash as we've been able to do the past few years. The same goes with being able to pay for our wedding in cash along with birthday parties for our son.

Having the money you need on hand helps you avoid unwanted debt. In turn, you have the opportunity to get ahead faster.

You're Probably Already Using Sinking Funds

Let's face it. Sinking funds are nothing new. In fact, you're probably already using them in one capacity or another and just don't realize it. Have you ever saved up for a vacation? Many of us have and this is an example of using a sinking fund.

You see, you're already planning to set aside money for planned expenses even though they may be for fun or leisure activities. Maybe you have a concert for your favorite recording artist coming up and start to plan out your paychecks over the next few weeks.

Why not formalize this method of financial planning and establish a few core sinking funds to help you plan for other expenses? You can create sinking funds for any planned expense that you'd rather start saving for in advance.

I have sinking funds for

Christmas

Birthdays

House maintenance

Car maintenance and a new car

Our car registration

Travel

I'd recommend starting with 1-3 core sinking fund categories. That way, you don't spread yourself too thin. Consider opening an online savings account that will allow you to open several connected accounts for free. I like CapitalOne 360 because they have no fees and you can open up to 25 different savings accounts and nickname them for free.

Have you ever thought about using sinking funds? Which one of these benefits would best serve you?

    Why You Should Start Adding Sinking Funds To Your Financial Plan is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

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First-Time Renovators' Stories, Vol. 3

Get the lowdown on their projects and advice

No matter the level of experience, the key to tackling a renovation is being prepared for the expected-and the unexpected. When renovators, beginners and pros alike, come to Sweeten, they get the guarantee of a licensed contractor specifically matched to their project, plus the support of an entire company whose number one priority is making sure the project goes right. These first-timers shared their reno journeys-and what they learned along the way.

The biggest components of Sheilaja and Sergio's renovation revolved around entertaining. They wanted to maximize their tight galley kitchen and reimagine the foyer as a dining area. In the cook space, they decided to extend the cabinetry for more storage and chose a glossy white finish that reflects light. Instead of running upper cabinets along both sides, the couple opted for floating shelves, making the space feel wider and longer. To create a dining room, they removed two closets in the foyer, allowing enough space for bookshelves and a full table and chairs. “As first-time renovators, we greatly appreciated how responsive our Sweeten contractor was to our calls and emails throughout the renovation. In the few instances where something needed to be adjusted or redone, he was willing to take the extra steps to make sure we were satisfied with the outcome,” Sheilaja shared.

Jen bought her first apartment eager to renovate the kitchen, but decided to live with it to get a feel for how she'd actually use the space.“I had a pretty clear vision of the aesthetics and giving myself that extra year solidified those design decisions,” she said. Once she got started on the renovation, a wall came down between the living area and kitchen. She connected the separate spaces with a peninsula for more counter space and a built-in spot to eat. The rest of the minimalistic cook space came together with sleek cabinets, barely-there hardware, and integrated appliances. She loved the transformation so much, choosing a favorite element was nearly impossible, though she did have a few words of wisdom for future renovators. For one, start putting together a materials list before you even hire a contractor. Jen assembled a spreadsheet with everything from appliances to light fixtures to keep track of things she loved and to see if they went on sale.

After mishaps with a kitchen designer and a year off from the process, Racquel began her kitchen renovation with a Sweeten general contractor by her side. Though there were a few issues with deliveries and delays, the project was complete within the three-week window her contractor had quoted. Including the time spent before she found Sweeten, Racquel did put more time into the renovation than expected. Her patience and perseverance proved worth it. “Resist the urge to rip things out before you have a chance to live with it. If I hadn't, I don't think I would've made the best decisions,” she said. “Sometimes I walk into the kitchen with the sun coming in and it feels like a postcard. It looks like a magazine.”

Lynn and Craig's number one request for an apartment? An in-unit washer and dryer. They found a two-bedroom, one-and-a-half bathroom in a perfect location, with great bones, but no laundry. Ultimately they decided to tackle both of the apartment's bathrooms. Their contractor found a spot in their 24-square-foot half bathroom to install a laundry area by tapping into the sink's water line. To solve another problem in the space, a lingering smell of cat urine, the walls and floor were gutted and rebuilt. While Lynn's background in exhibit design allowed them to renovate without an architect, in retrospect they would've hired one. “Renovating a home is practically a second job if you undertake it on your own with just a contractor. We now understand why people hire architects. For those with less design experience or who are strapped for time, it would be helpful to work with a professional who can do the groundwork for you,” Craig said.

After losing out on several homes, Sonali and Shalaj were surprised when their bid on a two-bedroom co-op in the Financial District of Manhattan was accepted. Once reality hit, the new homeowners came to a conclusion: they had to gut renovate the '70s style apartment. In addition to reimagining the bathroom and bedroom, they decided the living area should be an open concept. Most of their budget and effort went into updating the kitchen, including appliances and materials. Fortunately, a friend advised them to set aside a 30% buffer on top of their budget. “The advice came in handy as that was almost exactly the amount we went over by. Extra costs included a few items outside the original scope such as replacing the AC unit and also spending more on kitchen materials than had been initially planned,” Sonali said.

-

These couples renovated for the first time-together.

Refer your renovating friends to Sweeten and you'll both receive a $250 Visa gift card when they sign a contract with a Sweeten general contractor.

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project's location, budget, and scope, helping until project completion. Follow the blog for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you're ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.

The post First-Time Renovators' Stories, Vol. 3 appeared first on Sweeten Blog.

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This Anti-Theft Device for Homes Could Be a Game Changer

Your great-grandmother's wedding ring that was left to you. Your computer-and every other electronic item you had in the house. Your (registered) handgun. There's been a break-in. Your house was ransacked. And the thieves got it all.

While whatever security measures you had in place to keep the burglars out may have failed here, you now have a better chance than ever of getting your things back, thanks to a cool new product from ProTech DNA called DNA for Property.

And, the best part is: It's free, courtesy of the insurance industry, who was smart enough to see the advantage of underwriting the product instead of having to pay to replace their customers' stolen stuff. After all, according to safewise, “More than five million thefts occur nationally each year!” That's a lot of money out of pocket for you, if you're a victim of theft, and for the insurance company who has to pay out a claim.

National investigative correspondent Jeff Rossen profiled the product on TODAY, demonstrating how it can greatly increase the chances that burglary victims will get their stolen items back. “In many cases, once police have recovered the items, it's difficult for them to determine the rightful owner,” they said.

This anti-theft kit is poised to put an end to that problem; the product is a game changer that uses DNA to “tag” your things. According to the company, DNA for Property is a “forensic marking solution that will put your unique identifier on all your valuables. Each Dot is made of nickel, and has a unique PIN (Personal Identification Number). The glue/adhesive contains a UV trace that will glow under a black light.”

So far, more than 5,000 police departments across the country have partnered with the company, with another 1,000 being added each month, creating a widespread national anti-theft system.

Each kit comes with enough gel to tag about 100 items, so you don't have to play Sophie's Choice with your possessions. Safewise has a good rundown of the most likely items to get stolen in a home burglary to assist you in choosing what to include. Their No. 1: Cash. While you're probably not going to mark every dollar bill that comes through your home, this is a great reminder to tag your stash of emergency cash or any bundles you keep in a safe or other (presumably) secure place in your home while you're marking your laptops, TV, and art pieces.

You can get your free DNA kit from their website.