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Custom Cabinets For Master Bathroom

When it comes to deciding what kind of cabinets you want to put in your kitchen or bathroom, we always tell our customers that the options are endless! 

Where To Find Your Inspiration

You can look around on the internet at Houzz, Pinterest, or any picture from anywhere, and we can make it happen! 

Recently we had a homeowner who found a particular cabinet she loved on Houzz. This particular cabinet had drawers with lots of space on the bottom while still having large enough cabinets to use for plumbing and storage. We were able to build these for her. We made the doors with a soft close option, and the whole thing looks fantastic. 

Custom Cabinets Vs. Prefab

This was a custom build, so we actually built the entire cabinet to fit the exact size of her bathroom wall. You don't get that kind of fit with a prefab cabinet. The problem with a prefab cabinet is that you have to adjust it to the size of the space you have available. You often have to add fitters on the sides and in the middle of the cabinets, to fill in the space. But what we can do is build you cabinets that are a perfect custom fit for your specific bathroom.

If you are interested in getting some custom work done for your bathroom or kitchen, give us a call! We can give you a free estimate, and we will be more than happy to make your dream happen for you!

The post Custom Cabinets For Master Bathroom appeared first on Nielsen's Painting & Remodeling.

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Custom DIY TV Stand with Sliding Doors

Ok I wanted to get this post out way sooner but ya know, life happened. So it's finally here for you today and I can't wait to share all the details on our gorgeous Custom... Read The Post

The post Custom DIY TV Stand with Sliding Doors appeared first on brepurposed.

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2019 Home Organization Challenge Week 2: The Pantry

    It's week 2 of the challenge and we are moving right along. We're still in the kitchen this week but we will re-focus our efforts towards organizing our food & the pantry. If you don't have a pantry (like me), organize the area where you keep your food. If you didn't get your refrigerator cleaned out last week, do it now. You have 7 days to complete the second challenge but shouldn't take you that long. Be quick and efficient with your time. If you would like to purchase any of the items featured in this post, check out my favorites shop here.

  FIRST TIME PARTICIPANTS: Welcome! We are glad you're here. Take a minute to look over the challenge details then begin working at your own pace. You can find the week 1 challenge here. Before you start, print out the complete 14 week schedule and checklists below.

Free Challenge Kit

  Welcome to week 2 of the challenge. We will be spending the next 7 days deep cleaning and organizing the pantry (or the area where you keep your food).  For encouragement, join our Home Organization Facebook community to share your progress, or struggles, or questions. Or simply look through the photos and read how others are doing.

This week should be pretty straight forward. Empty the pantry, wipe it out, toss expired food, and put it all back in an organized fashion.

THE PROCESS

PLAN – Before starting, make sure you have a good supply of boxes, bins & food containers. You will need them.  If you do not have any, simply organize your pantry into “categories”.

SET UP – If you are using them, line up your empty bins, baskets & containers onto the kitchen table. If you don't have any, you can still separate your food into 'categories' on the table.

PURGE & ORGANIZE – Take everything out of your pantry.  Check the expiration date and throw out expired or no longer used items.  Place “like” items in the baskets on the table. Organizing your food into categories (bins) will help keep your pantry looking nice and neat.  (Categories to consider: School, Breakfast, Pasta, Baking, Sauce, Bread, Snacks, Sides, etc.)  You can also empty bags & boxes into OXO containers or mason jars for a more uniform look.  If the unused food isn't expired, you can donate it to a local food pantry.

CLEAN –  Once you are finished organizing everything into categories, you can wipe out your pantry, then sweep & mop the floor.  You want it all nice & clean before you put everything away.

PUT AWAY – Place all of your neatly organized bins, boxes, and containers back into your pantry

LABEL – Label each bin & container with a labeler or hang a tag on the baskets.

We do not have a pantry in our new home. It just wasn't important to me. From my experience, having a pantry meant a lot of expired food (because I bought too much and we didn't eat it in time) and excess clutter. I also shop for groceries every Sunday so I don't need to store too much more than a week or 2 of food.

    This time around, I made plans to use a small cabinet to store food. It's in the hallway right outside of our kitchen. I also have huge 10 foot island that has the storage space I need for small appliances, canned goods, etc… so it works well for us.

Each week after I return from the grocery store, I spend a couple of minutes tidying up the cabinets. It has helped me to eliminate wasteful food and indulgent grocery shopping.  I try to stick with a list and only buy what we need for the week. It's been a nice change from the overstuffed shelves full of food.

THE LAYOUT. No matter if you have a large pantry or small set of cabinets, categorize your food storage into zones for easy access and order.

    DRY GOODS. Glass jars with airtight lids are the perfect way to condense boxes and bags into uniform food storage. These jars are my favorite. You can also store dry goods in OXO containers or mason jars.

    Use a labeling machine to label the jars.

    If you don't have a labeler, you can use a wet erase marker and write on the glass jar.

    BASKETS. Wicker baskets & bins are great for storing potatoes, onions, bagged items, and cutting boards. It's also easy to grab what you need quickly.

      CANNED GOODS. We keep our canned goods in the cabinet under our kitchen island. I am grateful for this extra space.

    There's not much pretty organization involved down here. Everything is placed into categories and that works for us.

    Another way to organize canned goods is by using narrow bins. Here is a photo of my canned goods in our old pantry. You can see more detailed photos here. The bins are from The Container Store.

    DECOR. Not only can your pantry be functional but it can be pretty as well. Bring your home decor into the pantry and add a little charm. I love to display vintage bread boards and Demi John jars. I also keep my French apron & dried lavender hanging on the sides of the cabinet.

      Here are several blog posts that are sure to inspire you to get your pantry organized.

My Pantry Organization 2018

My Pantry Organization 2014

Pantry Organization 2012

An Organized Baking Pantry

Menu Planning Door

Snack Organization

    For the perfect companion guide to our challenge, purchase The Complete Book to Home Organization. It includes all 14 weekly challenges and will be your guide over the next 14 weeks, as you tackle your spaces. No need to log onto the computer for ideas, this manual has it all!

    For help with cleaning your house during the challenge, be sure to get the complimenting book The Complete Book of Clean.  It has tons of cleaning recipes, tips, and checklists that will teach you how to get your homes sparkling clean.

    Concentrate on purging your pantry this week.  Follow the process I've laid out for you. Make sure to set up organized zones for better functionality.  If. you need more guidance, be sure to get my book. Try not to get side-tracked and don't move ahead until you are completely finished with the space.

Share your progress on Instagram using the hash tag #abfolchallenge, blog about the weekly challenges, and  share your before and after pictures over at my Home Organization FB group here.  Hold yourself accountable and finish all 14 challenges! I can't wait to see what you accomplish.  Good luck. I'll see you back next week for the week 3 challenge. Happy Organizing!

~Toni

    Disclaimer: You may find Amazon affiliate links within this post. Thank you for your support to A Bowl Full of Lemons.

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Whole30 Pizza Recipe

This Whole30 Pizza recipe uses a cauliflower crust as the base and is topped with tomato sauce, prosciutto and arugula and is perfect for your weekly pizza night. 

You read that right-yes, you can have pizza during whole30! …with some modifications of course. This whole30 pizza recipe will leave you feeling satisfied and SO happy, because pizza = happiness. 

The one thing I'm currently craving while doing this second whole30 is….. everything. I'm craving bread and sugar and all my normal foods, one of them being pizza. I know so many people work pizza into their weekly meal plan, and I don't want anyone to have to go an entire month without their beloved pizza night. This whole30 pizza recipe is surprisingly filling despite the fact that the crust is made of cauliflower. 

Have you tried cauliflower crust pizza? I know it's been all the rage for at least the past year, probably longer. Truthfully, I don't eat pizza often enough to feel like I need to sub out regular pizza crust. But, now that this cauliflower crust has made its debut into my life, I'm thinking that I might need to start a weekly pizza tradition for myself. 

So what's on this whole30 pizza anyway? What can you possibly eat?! It all starts with the cauliflower crust. 

Tip: buy bagged cauliflower rice if it's available to you. This will save you time and you'll be left with less dishes in the end.

Tip: ALWAYS use parchment paper when making a cauliflower crust. This will make it way easier to transfer the pizza onto your plate and assure that the crust doesn't stick to the pan. 

Cauliflower rice, egg, almond flour, herbs, and some salt are the ingredients in this cauliflower crust. You'll stir everything together and then use your hands or a spatula to form the “dough” into a circular crust. 

Once the crust is made, you'll bake the crust in the oven for about 15 minutes. Then, you'll add on your appropriate toppings. Available pizza toppings include but are not limited to: tomato sauce, roasted garlic, caramelized onions, really any kind of vegetable, and any kind of meat too, so you really shouldn't feel deprived.

  For this recipe, I opted to use roasted garlic marinara sauce as the base, and then I topped it with prosciutto and arugula. I wanted to keep things simple and show that you don't need a ton of toppings for this to be a flavorful recipe, though of course you can add more toppings. 

After you decide on your toppings, you'll add them on top of the baked crust then place the pizza bake into the oven to bake for an additional 10 minutes. Last, you slice it and eat up! 

Note: I also decided to whip up a quick sauce while the pizza was in the oven, because I'm all about dips! I made Eat the Gains whole30 buffalo sauce and it was amazing!

I hope this whole30 pizza recipe makes its way into your life, even if you're not doing whole30. Trust me when I say I had low expectations for this recipe-I mean, who actually wants to eat cauliflower crust?-but it surprised me in the best way possible. If you make this recipe, remember to tag @thealmondeater on Instagram! 

Print

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Whole30 Pizza Recipe

This Whole30 pizza recipe will be your new go-to during your whole30. It's made with a cauliflower crust and you can use as many compliant toppings as you wish!

Author: Erin

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 25 mins

Total Time: 45 mins

Yield: 2

Category: dinner

Method: oven

Cuisine: pizza

Ingredients

for the crust:

2 bags cauliflower rice (approx. 6 cups)

3/4 cup almond flour

1/2 tsp garlic herb seasoning

1/2 tsp salt

1 egg

for the pizza:

3/4 cup marinara sauce

5 slices prosciutto

1/2 cup arugula

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425° and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Line a large bowl with cheese cloth and set aside.

Cook both bags of cauliflower rice according to the package instructions. Pour cauliflower rice on top of the cheese cloth and wait for it to cool a bit. Then, use both hands to press as much liquid out of the cauliflower rice as possible. If the cauliflower rice is too water-y, the crust will turn out mushy.

Pour dried cauliflower rice into a separate bowl, then stir in the flour, seasoning and salt. Last, stir in the egg.

Use your hands to form mixture into a ball, then transfer it onto the parchment-lined baking sheet and press down on it, forming the mixture into a circular crust. Bake crust by itself for 15 minutes.

Remove crust from the oven, then add your toppings! Start with the sauce, then add on your meat and veggies. Place pizza back in the oven and bake for 10 additional minutes.

Remove pizza, wait a few minutes before slicing and serving.

Enjoy!

Notes

You can use whatever compliant toppings you want! Feel free to add more toppings and/or your own vegetables or meat–whatever your heart desires.

Keywords: whole30 pizza, cauliflower crust pizza

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @thealmondeater on Instagram and hashtag it #thealmondeater

The post Whole30 Pizza Recipe appeared first on The Almond Eater.

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My favorite IKEA pieces and how we use them

I've been working on a organizational project in our basement that has escalated into a much bigger DIY project...per usual with me. :) 

We needed a good solution for our games in the basement and I went with an easier version of the built in cubby storage in our old basement: 

We didn't need nearly the storage we used to (not many toys left in this house, sniff!!), and I didn't want to do anything permanent just yet. As our kiddo gets older the way we use this space may change over time. 

Instead, I used the IKEA Kallax cubby units and they're working great!:

These are supposed to have four cubbies, but on the two end units I didn't add the smaller shelves that create the four spaces. Instead it's just a more basic bookcase so the longer games fit perfectly! 

More to come on this if you give a mouse a cookie project soon. :) 

Before we had an IKEA nearby, we'd stop in on the way to or from Kings Island and it was usually a quick walk through to grab what I wanted. Since the one here in Indy opened I've been able to really explore the store and I love it even more than before!

Years back I wasn't so sure about the quality of their pieces, but over time I've come to trust that everything I get there is going to hold up and function well. I'm super pleased with EVERY item we've purchased from IKEA over the years. 

One purchase I can't really speak to are their upholstered pieces. I think I'm in the minority, but I don't find their sofas and chairs to be very comfy. I hear they get more comfortable over time, but that's one thing I don't see myself purchasing. 

But pretty much everything else -- I love! I've rounded up the best IKEA pieces I've used in our two homes. 

First up, one of my favorite rooms EVER...our son's bathroom in the old house: 

Those round Stockholm mirrors were the perfect finishing touch to the tile wall. I SO wished I could use them again in his new bathroom, but the vanity isn't as wide. These mirrors are big! The frame comes out on the bottom a bit, so you can use it as a little shelf. :) 

Next up -- their butcher block. I used it in a few places in our old house, including the DIY built in bench in our white and blue mud room makeover: 

It's very inexpensive as far as butcher is concerned, and warms up a space beautifully. It always stained nicely and held up great! 

Next up -- their dressers. I showed you the one in my closet when I shared how I organized my jewelry and shoes: 

We also have one in my husband's closet too. People fear the IKEA assembly instructions,  I know. When you pull everything out of the box it can be intimidating, but it's not that bad. I'm a nerd that kind of enjoys putting furniture together though. ;) 

I particularly like the Hemnes line of dressers and furniture (the dresser above is one). They have a simple, classic design that goes well with nearly every style. I used the tall Hemnes cabinet with glass doors for our master bathroom. It provides so much storage!:

Mine didn't look like this when I got it -- see how I transformed it here!

What I really love about IKEA furniture is how easily you can add your own touches to make it work perfectly in your home. Because so many of their pieces are a simpler design, they are easily dressed up. You can see how I did just that with the Tarva dressers I turned into nightstands: 

The possibilities with their unfinished items are endless! There is a ton of storage space in these too.

I have SO many smaller favorites too, but I'll save that for a future post. I did share a round up of my IKEA faves $10 and under here: 

I wrote that years ago and I still use ALL of these items! Love them. 

I'm sure I'm forgetting something! But this is a good list -- do you have any of these? Have you had good luck with IKEA furniture? Do you have a favorite product? I've been very pleased over the years. It's a fun place to explore for sure -- just make sure you have some time. 

This content is property of Thrifty Decor Chick LLC. If you are reading this on any other site other than www.thriftydecorchick.com or one of her social media platforms, please contact her immediately (thriftydecorchick at gmail dot com). Any other use of this content is strictly forbidden.

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Friday Favorites: favorite cascading chandeliers

Happy Friday my friends. The reason for todays favorite cascading chandelier post is the fact that my daughter's star chandelier inn her room is broken. I've mentioned on Instagram, that someone bumped their head on it…ouch… and the glass and socket broke. I have it attached with wire now which doesn't look good at all and I fear it presents a safety issue as well.

This post may contain affiliate links from which I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

my favorite boho cascading chandeliers

I've been wanting to make her a macrame chandelier but the spoiled brat doesn't want one that I made and I told her that I'm not buying one. So we are having a stand off. I do love looking though and in todays post I want to show you my favorites. All of these cascading chandeliers would look so pretty in my daughter's room.

1 | 2 or HERE | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

  Which one is your favorite?

Continue reading Friday Favorites: favorite cascading chandeliers at Cuckoo4Design.

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Elevate Your Style With These Kitchen Floor Tile Ideas

Image: 

We'll warn you now: these kitchen floor tile ideas aren't for the faint of heart.

Tile isn't something you can easily change out, and making a bold commitment isn't for everyone. If you want to create a unique, eye-catching look in your kitchen, though, tile will make a major statement.

Here are 3 ways to go bold with kitchen floor tiles, with real-life examples.

Photo Credit: Theguardian.com

Go Big

Big tile? Big impact. If you go in this direction, however, limit your color choices-- the size already makes a statement, so keep it to larger patterns and a maximum of two colors for a look that's bold without being overwhelming.

Photo Credit: Granadatile.com

If you aren't sure how much of an impact the flooring makes, check out these images-- one with the kitchen flooring in place, another with the floor edited out, so you can truly see how the tile changes the entire feel of the kitchen. Without the bold flooring, these kitchens don't stand out. It's the floor tile that sets them apart.

Photo Credit: Theartofdoingstuff.com

Choose small but powerful

The opposite is true for smaller tiles-- you can go with two or more colors, or choose more intricate kitchen floor tile patterns.

Photo Credit: CountryLiving.com

Get a real feel for the impact of small but mighty floor tile by comparing these images:

Photo Credit: Domino.com

Take inspiration from nature

The natural grooves and wave patterns in natural stone creates a unique texture that can soften the look of your kitchen while still giving it a unique vibe.

Photo Credit: futuristarchitecture.com

See the difference in the feeling of the space by comparing these images:​

Photo Credit: futuristarchitecture.com

  Every detail in a kitchen combines to create the overall impact, but when choosing standout features, many homeowners often overlook the floor. So if you want to go bold, beautiful and unique, explore your flooring options.

Do you have a unique kitchen floor tile pattern? Share it with us over on Facebook!

Category: 

Design Trends

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Investing Blog Roundup: How Important is Sequence of Returns Risk?

I recently encountered an article from the Early Retirement Now blog, discussing just how much sequence of returns risk matters in retirement. The article isn't new (May 2017). And it's pretty math-heavy. But it's worth a read.

One noteworthy finding: over a 30-year retirement, only 31% of the variation in safe withdrawal rates is explained by the average return earned by the portfolio over that 30-year period. 64%, however, is explained by the sequence of those returns.

If the math intimidates you, I would still encourage you to at least click over to the article and find the second table - the one with a column of green-highlighted cells. What these cells are showing you is how important each 5-year window of returns is in determining safe withdrawal rate.

It's quite striking how much less important each 5-year window of returns is, relative to the prior 5-year window. For example, years 0-5 explain more than 28% of the variation in safe withdrawal rate. Years 5-10 explain another 19%. Years 10-15 explain another 13%. And so on.

Key takeaway being: the returns that your portfolio earns in the first several years of retirement matter a lot.

More Thoughts on Sequence of Return Risk from Early Retirement Now

Other Recommended Reading

10 Ways Advisors Can Differentiate Their Practices from Allan Roth

How Scarcity Impacts Decision-Making from Meghaan Lurtz

When Is Guardianship Necessary? from Howard Krooks

Retirement Planning Lessons from 2018 from Dirk Cotton

How a New Kind of Community is Creating a Better Aging Experience from Joseph Coughlin

You Should Freeze Your Child's Credit. It's Not Hard. Here's How. from Ron Lieber

What Should You Do About a Falling Stock Market? Nothing from Neil Irwin

1 Woman, 12 Months, 52 Places from Jada Yuan

Thanks for reading, and Happy New Year!

What is the Best Age to Claim Social Security?

Read the answers to this question and several other Social Security questions in my latest book:

Social Security Made Simple: Social Security Retirement Benefits and Related Planning Topics Explained in 100 Pages or Less

Click here to see it on Amazon.

Disclaimer:Your subscription to this blog does not create a CPA-client or other professional services relationship between you and Mike Piper or between you and Simple Subjects, LLC. By subscribing, you explicitly agree not to hold Mike Piper or Simple Subjects, LLC liable in any way for damages arising from decisions you make based on the information available herein. Neither Mike Piper nor Simple Subjects, LLC makes any warranty as to the accuracy of any information contained in this communication. I am not a financial or investment advisor, and the information contained herein is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. On financial matters for which assistance is needed, I strongly urge you to meet with a professional advisor who (unlike me) has a professional relationship with you and who (again, unlike me) knows the relevant details of your situation.

You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of this email (or by removing this RSS feed from your feed reader if you have subscribed via a feed reader).

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Here Are The 7 Things I Will Only Clean With Microfiber Cloths

They say that a workman is only as good as his tools. I personally believe that the same principle applies to cleaning! You can do an okay job using any old cleaning tool, but with the right tool, you'll be able to do a great job faster and with less effort. And I don't think any of us would mind saving ourselves some time and effort on cleaning tasks right? ;-)

And while there are a lot of cleaning tools that excel at certain tasks, today I want to focus on one tool in particular: microfiber cloths. Microfiber cloths are gentle enough for delicate surfaces, yet they have the grip and absorbency to trap messes like few other tools can. Today I'm sharing 7 different cleaning tasks that I only trust to microfiber cloths. And by the end of this post, I think you'll understand exactly why!

7 Things You Should Clean With Microfiber Cloths

1. Shower Walls

Not only are microfiber cloths great for cleaning your shower, they can help you keep it clean too! Use a microfiber cloth to wipe down your shower walls after each use. You'll pick up any soapy residue and moisture on the walls, preventing soap scum and even mildew from forming in the future.

Use your microfiber cloths along with my daily shower cleaner spray will keep your shower looking beautiful for weeks! Learn how to make the spray at the link below.

Related: This One Simple Thing Will Keep Your Shower Cleaner, Longer

2. Windows & Mirrors

Cleaning your windows and mirrors with microfiber will leave them super shiny and streak-free! Add equal parts water and vinegar to a spray bottle, spray it onto your cloth, and use it to wipe down your mirrors and windows.

3. Granite, Stainless Steel, & Other Kitchen Surfaces

Microfiber is great for cleaning and shining up any surface in your kitchen. It will leave your stone countertops gleaming, and remove smudges and smears from stainless steel! My homemade granite cleaner works great on both stone and stainless steel, and you can learn how to make it at the link below.

Related: This Easy Homemade Granite Cleaner Makes Countertops Sparkle

4. Eyeglasses

Use a dry microfiber cloth to clean everyday smears and smudges off your glasses and sunglasses. But on those rare occasions that you need a bit of extra cleaning power, you can make your own lens and screen cleaning solution! Check that out at the link below.

Related: Make Your Own Screen Cleaner For Pennies!

5. Glassware

Sick of water spots on your glasses and stemware? Just buff them with a microfiber cloth! The cloth will pick up any residue or mineral deposits without the need for additional cleaners.

6. Dusting

Microfiber cloths are excellent for dusting. You can use a dry cloth to pick up light dust and dirt, or use a wet cloth to power through thicker dust and grime. And since microfiber is so effective at trapping dirt, you don't have to worry about spreading it around like other dusters do!

7. Spills

Use a dry microfiber cloth to absorb spilled liquids. One cloth can absorb as much as a whole can of soda! You can also use a damp microfiber cloth to clean up spilled dry ingredients, like flour, salt, etc. The wet fibers grab onto even the tiniest particles to make cleaning spills a breeze.

More About Microfiber

Curious about what microfiber cloths I use? I had been hunting for months for a quality microfiber cloth that wouldn't break the bank, and I finally found what I was looking for! I bought the ecloth Home Cleaning Set a couple of weeks ago and have been very impressed so far. In fact, I was so impressed that I reached out to ecloth to secure a special discount just for you guys! Get 15% off any order placed in the next 7 days when you use coupon code JILL15. Click here to get started!

Want to learn more about what microfiber is or how it works? Read the post at the link below to get all the details!

Related: This Is Why Microfiber Cloths Are The Ultimate Cleaning Tool

Concerned about the environmental impact of microfiber? It's a tricky issue, because while they do help us cut back on using disposable paper products, there are drawbacks to using microfiber as well. Every time you wash microfiber cloths, the cloths shed a small amount of microfibers into the water, and eventually into the oceans. The best way to minimize this effect is to wash microfiber cloths as infrequently as possible on a delicate, cold-water cycle. This will minimize shedding and help reduce the impact of microfiber on the environment.

Do you clean with microfiber cloths at home?

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And My Word of the Year Is…

As I get older, I've become much more comfortable with easing into a new year rather than kicking things off the second the clock strikes midnight. There's something about that first week of January, where my mind is clear and the past year is behind me, that makes it the perfect time for me to thoughtfully and intentionally set out my goals. Along with that comes my favorite part of the new year: Choosing my word.

For those who may not be familiar with the practice, the idea is to decide on a word that sets the tone for the year ahead. My favorite words are those that can have more than one meaning – but that doesn't always work out. Most importantly, it should align or even help boost the focus on your goals or resolutions.

Last year, my word was simplify. It was a word that helped me make decisions about adding more to my plate (or rather, not adding more to my plate), purging extra stuff in my life (literally and figuratively) and simply getting back into a routine after back to back years of big projects (hello, kitchen remodel and wedding!).

And while it was certainly a relief to focus on a lot of mini updates around the house, getting settled into our new studio, and having more downtime, by the end of the year I felt a little… well, directionless. Words can be funny like that.

When choosing my word for this year, I started by listing not only words that currently resonate with me, but also the goals I want to achieve. From there, it became fairly clear the overall direction that things were going in. Here was my list of finalists for 2019: Act, Expand, Refine, Focus, Explore, Motivate, Energize, Push.

It's not hard to spot the trend here, right?! But before I tell you what my word is, I want to give you a little perspective on where it's coming from.

When I moved in with my husband a few years ago, for the first time in my adult life I felt stability. And I fought it. I loved being independent. I could make my own decisions about where to invest my time and money, and always had the option to dream as big as I wanted to without worrying about repercussions because they would only affect me. Looking back now, I think I fought it because I was scared of what would happen if I relaxed a little bit. Slowed down that hustle.

And then last year – it happened. I flipped. I embraced the idea of not having to constantly work so hard. I also had to find more time in my schedule for things like making dinner at a scheduled time. Picking my step-daughter up for her drum lessons. I found time to work out (yay!) and take naps with my dog on the sofa (oh, the luxury!).

But, somewhere in my quest to Simplify and find balance in life, I maaaay have tipped the scales too far in the opposite direction. Settling into a more manageable workload made me wary of taking on more challenging opportunities. Partially because after living through a kitchen remodel and planning a wedding, I was terrified of screwing with our routine and creating a more stressful environment in the house again. And partially because I was so exhausted by my newfound wife and step-mom duties that mentally and creatively I just couldn't motivate myself.

For someone who thrives on challenge and change in every other aspect of life, it was quite the shock to end up here. In my version of lazy. But I was kind of enjoying it. Until I wasn't.

In the latter part of last year, I started to feel really stuck. I couldn't make decisions. I didn't know what I wanted, but I definitely wasn't happy. I was going through the motions. I might even say, I was mildly depressed. Of course I had moments of delight and creativity, but overall I was not in a good place. And it took these last few weeks of finally having enough downtime, sleep and introspection to figure out why.

Giving myself more flexible time last year both helped me and hurt me.

That sentence is an an entire essay in itself, but here's what it boils down to: When I'm feeling fulfilled creatively through work, then I'm happier all around. And that fulfillment comes through collaborating on exciting partnerships, challenging myself with new ideas or projects, and having measurable goals. Last year, there wasn't much of this, and without it I simply lost direction and motivation.

Let me be clear about something though: some of that downtime was very needed and did result in better habits. I don't see last year as a failure or even a waste of time. I may have swung my 'balance' pendulum a bit too far in the opposite direction for a little while, but I'm hoping that means I can take the lessons learned from being on both sides of that pendulum and really nail it when it comes to finding my happy medium in 2019. After all, isn't that what life is all about? We learn, we grow, we do better.

So, back to that word.

After concluding that I'm definitely a gal who thrives under pressure, but also having learned from the past that I can't go following every idea or my business, my word for 2019 is…. Focus.

I think we can all agree that life can get insanely distracting. I find myself very easily getting sucked into mindless social media scrolling, or bouncing from one task to another without feeling like I'm actually getting anything done. Feeling overwhelmed is a pretty common emotion for me, but the very act of using the word Focus in the past 10 days has already helped me to become more disciplined.

I'm actively creating structure around my time that's boosting my productivity immensely, and laying this foundation is going to come in quite handy when attempting to achieve some of the larger goals I've laid out for myself this year. (Which I will be posting about next week!)

Do you pick a word for yourself every year? I'd love to hear what it is!

The post And My Word of the Year Is… appeared first on coco kelley.

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Lift Up Cabinet Doors

These lift up cabinet doors have me thinking: If manufacturers would spend the amount of time writing their hardware installation instructions as it took me to figure out how to install their hardware, it wouldn't take me so long to install their hardware!

The post Lift Up Cabinet Doors appeared first on Sawdust Girl®.

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Unwanted Christmas Tree Pests

Christmas trees are vulnerable to thousands of spider mites, praying mantis eggs and more.

Did you know that up to 20,000 bugs could be lurking in a single Christmas tree? This holiday season, we're here to help and have a checklist of things to consider before bringing your tree into the house.

Christmas tree pests include:

Aphids are common pests of evergreen trees and the warm conditions of the home may cause overwintering aphid eggs to hatch. Cinara aphids are large brown while black aphids that resemble small swollen ticks. These aphids do not bite or spread diseases and they will not feed on regular house plants.

Adelgids can produce cottony secretions over their bodies that might resemble snow on a Christmas tree.

Spider mites produce fine webbing and can appear as tiny red and brown dots when shaken out of the tree. The mites also create small red stains on carpets, ornaments, or furnishings and quickly die after the tree is cut.

Praying mantis eggs can hatch when introduced to the warmth of the home and if so, there can be hundreds of tiny mantids wandering in search for food.

Beetles and non-threatening spiders can also be found on Christmas trees.

It is important to note that none of the insects that emerge from a fresh-cut tree will cause any harm or damage to the tree, house, furnishing or occupants. Do not spray Christmas trees with pesticides, as they may do more harm than the insects themselves.

If you'd like to learn more about what to watch out for this holiday season, see this recent news story (click here) featuring one of our Regional Trainers discussing the topic of pests and Christmas trees.

The post Unwanted Christmas Tree Pests appeared first on Terminix Pest Control.

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Drill a Well and Hardwood Floor Scratches

This is a typical mobile well-drilling rig. The giant tower folds down parallel with the ground as it travels on roadways. (C) Copyright 2018 Tim Carter

Drill a Well

QUESTION #1: Tim the Builder, I've got a question for you. I live in a big city and am tired of the chlorinated and polluted water that flows through the city water mains. Is it possible to have my own well water as people out in the country have? How does water get into wells and what are the downsides to having your own well, if there are any? Connie M., City Anytown USA

I grew up in a big city in Ohio whose primary water supply was the Ohio River. Any number of chemical factories and giant sewage treatment plants were upstream from my city. The outflow from the sewage treatment plants is disgorged daily into the Ohio River and flowed towards the water plant intake pipes of my hometown.

Growing up I had no idea about all of this and grew accustomed to the taste and smell of the chlorine in the water. I do have a memory of a raging debate many years ago when it was announced that fluoride would be added to the city water supply.

Ten years ago, I moved from that city to a rural part of New Hampshire where I have my own water well. Each house for miles around me has their own private water well. We have natural springs in several towns near me with water spouts and filling platforms. People bring giant ten-gallon containers and fill them with this natural pure water. When I got back to my old city to visit friends, I take my own water with me to drink because the chlorinated water coming from the faucets is now revolting to me.

The simple answer to Connie's question, and you may have wondered if you can have your own well, is yes. Yes, you probably can drill your own well on your property. You, of course, would have to contact your local building department to see if there are any regulations that must be followed. Some states and cities may still charge you for the water that's pulled from your land, but that's a debate for another day.

Water is under the surface of the ground in almost all locations on the planet Earth. My college degree is in geology and I had a focus on hydrogeology - the study of groundwater. The bedrock that's under the soil cover almost always has cracks and seams in it. Gravity pulls rainwater into this network of interconnected cracks.

It's important to realize that some locations and valleys are filled with hundreds of feet of sandy gravel. These underground deposits are like giant underground lakes filled with delicious pure water, so pure that bottled water companies locate their plants above these gravel deposits and suck the water out of the ground and put it into bottles that you pay a hefty price for. A water-bottling plant is located just fifteen miles from my current house and it extracts tens of thousands of gallons of water from the bedrock each day.

The issue is it's not all unicorns and rainbows when it comes to drilled wells in a densely populated area like where you or Connie may live. Industrial pollution from years before could have introduced toxic chemicals that still linger in the groundwater.

Nearby property owners may routinely treat their lawns with toxic weedkillers and unnatural chemicals to have the perfect green lawn. Common sense dictates that these chemicals may leach down into the groundwater. If this happens, your well water could be dangerous to drink. Drilling a water well can also be expensive. Well drillers commonly charge by the foot and they need to drill down far enough until the well produces a minimum of three to five gallons of water per minute is achieved. Ten or fifteen gallons is preferred. If you're lucky like my daughter, you'll get 80 gallons per minute.

The trouble is that in many locations well drilling is mostly chance. I'm reminded of the scenes in the famous 1948 Cary Grant movie Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream Home where the honest well driller couldn't get enough water flow after drilling many, many feet into the bedrock. He then moved his rig just a few feet away and hit a massive amount of water in no time at all. If you're lucky and strike a plentiful supply of naturally pure water on your land, you'll marvel at the taste of the clear elixir!

Hardwood Floor Scratches

QUESTION #2: Tim, I'm in a bind. I won't name names to protect the guilty, but my gorgeous hardwood floor got scratched. Some of the scratches are just in the clear finish but are visible. Other scratches are deep and extend into the hardwood. I can't fathom removing all the furniture to have the floors refinished. Can these scratches be repaired and if so, how? Allen W., Wichita, KS

I've got good news for you if you share the same exact problem as Allen. Scratches in hardwood floors can be repaired. You don't have to refinish the floors to restore them to their former luster and shine.

There are numerous DIY methods for disguising shallow scratches that are in the clear coat finish. The method I've had the most success with is shoe polish of all things! You can get the paste shoe polish in different colors. One of the colors may be a perfect match or you may have to blend colors to get the exact color you need.

I use a cotton swab and just try to put a tiny spot of the polish on the scratch. Always start with a color that's lighter than your current floor color. It's easy to go darker, but tough to reverse the process. Once you get the perfect match, then allow the polish to dry and use other cotton swabs to apply a protective coat of clear urethane over the shoe polish. Be sure to match the same sheen as you currently have on your floor. Deep scratches require the services of a professional. In almost all cities and large towns, you can discover true artisans that do furniture repair. The top furniture sellers in a city or town use these people all the time. The craftsmen have a magic box they bring to your home with a tiny alcohol lamp, hard lacquers, and other colored materials. They can fill the deep scratches in your hardwood floor, create matching grain and puff onto the floor an aerosol mist such that you'll never know the floor was ever scratched.

Column 1283

The post Drill a Well and Hardwood Floor Scratches appeared first on Ask the Builder.

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New Year Party Is Over, Let's Clean Home

Hope you have enjoyed Christmas and New Year to the fullest. What about your home? Is it doing fine? Well, after a recent party, you can't expect your home to be all clean and uncluttered. But you can't lie idle as the home is in a mess right now. Hence, before the New Year comes with its freshness, it is your responsibility to keep your home ready beforehand for welcoming it.

Don't be perplexed thinking where to start and how to; we are here to ease your job. Apart from the tips, hire our professional cleaning service for residence to spare yourself from all the hassle.

Entrances, Hallways and Staircases

While keeping the rooms clean, many people store the items in the stairs or at the sides of the hallways. This is a bad practice and you should store the items only at the proper place. The storage tubs are great options for storing things like shoes, scarves, gloves and many other things that you may need every day. Many people use storage benches that incorporate storage facility as well as the seating arrangement. To soak majority of mud and dirt, it is better to keep a doormat. The key hooks are useful to find the keys and also it keeps the place look uncluttered.

Bedroom and Wardrobes

More than dust and dirt, the things which make the bedroom look untidy are the displaced things. No matter whether you have only adults at your home or children, if the habit of keeping things in place is not practiced, you can never keep your bedroom and wardrobes clean. The toys, clothing and other things should be there in the scheduled places. The excess things can be donated to make space for the new ones. Or wardrobe, dividers should be put for the weekend outfits, uniforms etc. When it is summer, the winter clothing should be in storage and vice versa to avoid a mess.

Bathroom

Bathrooms are most vulnerable to germ invasion and virus infection. To avoid these things, you should perform a deep cleaning from the cleaning service provider for residence to keep away the potential problems. The bathroom items should be kept in their places. The deep cleaning should include the shower heads, sinks, toilets, and cabinets, faucets, hanging rods, floor and everything else. Don't forget to get the laundry hamper with a lid and change the curtains as well.

Kitchen

This is another place that accumulates dust and dirt a lot. The oil and grease, food crumbs, leftovers everything can invite germs. While processing cleaning after New Year celebrations, you should clean all the appliances, drawers, cutleries, utensils and garbage bin everything else. Change the hand towels, garbage bag and keep everything fresh.

The residence cleaning service can make your job easy and without harming the environment, you will be able to clean your home and make it ready for the New Year. Come to us at Home Maid Better and get the best service at a reasonable price.

Happy New Year!!

The post New Year Party Is Over, Let's Clean Home appeared first on .

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No Sugar Challenge: Fit for Good

Are you ready to give your body a break from sugar? Many people resolve to get fit in the new year and joining the No Sugar Challenge is a great way to drop a few extra pounds and inches. There's a saying that you can't exercise away a bad diet and it's true! When I first started getting fit for good I ate poorly most of the time (especially soda!). It wasn't until I changed how I ate that I really saw changes in how I looked, and more importantly how I felt. Now, almost seven years later I can skip the gym for a few days or even a week and still feel great, as long as I'm eating well. However, even if I'm going to the gym several times a week, if my diet is full of sugar and processed foods I start to feel crummy very quickly. The No Sugar Challenge is simple. Stop eating sugar. You set the parameters, regarding whether you are going to try and substitute sugar with honey or agave or if you want to give up the sweet stuff altogether. My recommendation is that you give it up totally so that foods that are naturally sweet (mainly fruit) can serve as your sweet treats and you will be able to make better choices in the future. We've done many no sugar challenges in the past and I'm excited to be doing another one with you. For many people this is what it takes for them to give up their daily soda or candy habit. While we're doing this challenge together beginning January 7th. Just sign up below and you'll get daily reminders, helpful tips, encouragement and a free printable journal. 

How the No Sugar Challenge works

Enter your email below to join the challenge. Then, on January 7th you'll receive a series of emails from me with helpful tips, encouragement, and tactics to get rid of sugar. For 21 days we'll work together to rid our bodies of sugar. There will be bumps along the way, but we will do it together! This year, I'm also giving away a free Sugar Journal to help you keep track of your journey. Over the years I've found that writing things down keeps me accountable. I'm also able to back through my old journals when I need a boost of encouragement. Each day of the challenge you'll receive the next page of the journal for you to print out at home. Are you ready to take back your diet? Join us for the challenge below!

No Sugar Challenge

Join us January 7th for the No Sugar Challenge!

Email Address

Name

We start on January 7th! Don't miss on your opportunity for accountability and a way to share your success with a community of people cheering you on.

More Fit For Good

Read previous Fit for Good articles

The post No Sugar Challenge: Fit for Good appeared first on The Happy Housewife

:: Real Life.

  Comments

  Do you have a meal plan outlying what foods to eat ? I find ... by Amy

I'm super excited to do this with you ladies! by Heather

I'm all for this! My sister gave up sugar a month or so ago, ... by Selena

As someone who has done it, can I encourage everyone to give ... by Rita

Is this as in not added sugar, or no sugary things or to each ... by Liz

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The post No Sugar Challenge: Fit for Good appeared first on The Happy Housewife™.

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Today's Challenge: It's Entryway Week

Posted by Cynthia Ewer on January 6, 2019

It's the place where public meets private: the entryway or foyer of your home.

It's the launch zone for family members each day, and the source of a guest's first impression of your home.

This week in the New Year Cleaning Challenge, we'll deep-clean, declutter and organize the portal to the world outside. Daily challenges will focus on cutting morning chaos and fine-tuning daily routines.

Ready? Let's tackle the entryway in the New Year Cleaning Challenge!   Read More >>

Printables: 

Entryway Cleaning Checklist

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This Charcoal Grey Kitchen Foregoes The Usual Formula

Charged with designing a showhome kitchen in London, Ontario, designers Lea Legg and Angela Bobanovic knew just where to start: by tossing the usual formula out the window. “We knew from the beginning we wanted the kitchen to be unique but still have that comfortable feeling; to feel layered and interesting while not being fussy,” says Lea. As part of a house that was designed for a home lottery, the 361-square-foot kitchen also needed to function well. “We envisioned it being used by a family who loves to cook and bake together, entertain and live daily life around that island,” she adds. An eclectic palette of materials, old world millwork and a super-efficient layout proved the perfect recipe for the space. Once an empty shell, the charcoal grey kitchen is now a welcoming spot for future homeowners to cook, dine and catch up with friends.

“Don't be afraid to mix materials,” says Lea (right). “Often, when you find a space irresistible, it's because it hit that perfect mix!” Here, the designers offset metal sliding door hardware and warm wood flooring with glossy ceramic tile and gold-toned lighting.

Lea and Angela divided the kitchen into zones for food prep, dining and mixing cocktails. “Having the separate pantry and bar area allowed us to have a functional, symmetrical layout in the main working space, with room for true chef's appliances,” says Lea.

Clean-lined open shelving crafted from bold black metal punctuates the kitchen and keeps it grounded. An inky faucet, set of dining chairs and trio of candlesticks enhance the graphic effect.

Bespoke millwork - such as this kitchen's slim, built-in workspace - makes any space feel high-end. Tucked next to the wine fridge, the desk is the ideal spot to plan a menu or pour a drink.

The post This Charcoal Grey Kitchen Foregoes The Usual Formula appeared first on House & Home.