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Minimalist Clocks For A Neutral Home

Okay, so I can't really claim to know my stuff when it comes to designing a minimalist home (just one look at our home tour will prove that we're not great at simplifying), but as someone who at least appreciates minimalist décor, I've picked up on the fact that these spaces celebrate form meeting function.

In other words, since minimalism is based on the idea of having less, that often means that decorative accents play double duty as functional pieces, too. Take, for example, clocks. Minimalist pros seem to have cracked the code that these ultra functional devices can also act as beautiful art in a space.

To see what I mean, all you have to do is picture any one of these 12 neutral clocks sitting pretty in an all-white space with nothing more than maybe a potted plant to complete the look. So simple, right?!

Minimalist Clocks For A Neutral Home

1. Wood LED Digital Desk Clock

2. Carlo Marble And Brass Wall Clock

3. Flip Clock

4. Driini Wooden Analog Minimalist Desk Clock

5. Oslo Radial Brushed Brass Wall Clock

6. Extra Large Display Digital Alarm Clock

7. Arne Jacobsen Alarm Clock

8. Mello Wall Clock

9. Umbra Blink Wall Clock

10. JENSEN Digital Alarm Clock Radio

11. Desi White Marble Desk Clock

12. Project 62 Black Wall Clock

Tell me: do you consider yourself a minimalist? Are you good at parring things down to just the bare (albeit beautiful) necessities? I'm trying to get better at it, but I do love pretty things-and lots of them. I'm going to try my best this year to get rid of even more, though, and swap our busier-looking functional items out for more neutral options.

Maybe our clocks collection is a great place to start! We already have #6 in our master bedroom, but I'm also eyeing that Marble Desk Clock for my office. Which minimalist clock is your favorite from the list above?

*I earn a small percentage from purchases made using the affiliate links above. Affiliate links are not sponsored. Rest assured that I never recommend products we wouldn't use or don't already love ourselves.

The post Minimalist Clocks For A Neutral Home appeared first on Dream Green DIY.

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Can One Small Change Save You Money in 2019?

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

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

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

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

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

What does curiosity have to do with change?

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

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

How does it feel?

What triggered the impulse?

What satisfaction does it provide?

And for how long?

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

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

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

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

And there's your small change.

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

Let's get started

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Maison Valentina First Day at IMM Cologne 2019

Maison Valentina First Day at IMM Cologne 2019: Welcome to another edition of the IMM Cologne fair! We start a new chapter of 2019 today and we are ready to welcome you and show our top products here in Germany. Get to know our stand on this first day!

Find us at Hall 11.1 – Stand D-055.

    As our Sales Manager, Sérgio Oliveira said before, “we want to be on top of mind for all the interior designers and professionals of bath projects and we believe that our presence in this type of event is crucial”.

Continue reading Maison Valentina First Day at IMM Cologne 2019 at Maison Valentina Blog.

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Create a Winter Sanctuary

This post is in partnership with World Market The sun came out in Seattle yesterday and I have to say, it was glorious to get a glimpse of spring. January is usually a pretty gloomy month around these parts! I think that's one of the reasons I love being a homebody. It doesn't really matter […]

This article Create a Winter Sanctuary is from The Inspired Room Republishing this article in full or in part is a violation of copyright law. © 2009-2013, all rights reserved.

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CFD 507 – The Problem With Healthcare And How To Fix It

Dave Chase is the author of The CEO's Guide to Restoring the American Dream and co-founder of Health Rosetta. He...

The post CFD 507 – The Problem With Healthcare And How To Fix It appeared first on Cashflow Diary.

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Cozy in Coastal Maine

Maine is famous for beautiful summers with refreshing temperatures, ocean breezes, and plenty of outdoor activities. The winter season is pretty fabulous too, and there are many offerings to entertain the adventure enthusiast or the homebody. Maine's various ski mountains attract visitors from all over New England and beyond. Frozen lakes and ponds are perfect for family ice skating or a vigorous round of hockey; and there are numerous trails for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. Whether you wish to go out and enjoy one of these brisk winter adventures, or simply cozy up by the fire, these stunning Maine homes have got you covered.

Aspinwall Bremen Long Island, Maine

The great room in this historic island home features massive oak trusses and the commanding central fireplace, made from local stone, is thought to be one of the largest in Maine.

Undercliff Cottage | Camden, Maine

This lovely den with coffered ceilings, Cypress trim, and a stone fireplace is perfect for enjoying a good book while the flakes fall outside

Sears Cottage | Islesboro, Maine

This fine historic home features eleven unique wood-burning fireplaces and water views from almost every room.

Periwinkle Beach | Islesboro, Maine

This central, brick Russian fireplace is designed to maximize warmth and coziness.

Otter Creek Lane | Islesboro, Maine

The three limestone fireplaces in this bright and open home were inspired by Giorgio Armani.

Northeast Point | Camden, ME

When it is cold out, cooking and dining is a pleasure in front of this warm and inviting fireplace.

Dark Harbor House | Islesboro, Maine

With nine fireplaces throughout this thoughtfully-renovated historic home, it is difficult to choose just one!

260 Bay View Street | Camden, Maine

The double-sided, commanding stone fireplace in this festive family great room is perfect any time of the year.

For additional information about these listings, please contact Joe Sortwell, jsortwell@landvest.com or Terry Sortwell, tsortwell@landvest.com in our Camden office, 207-236-3543.

The post Cozy in Coastal Maine appeared first on LandVest Blog.

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Affordable A-frame house can be built by just two people

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More like A+ frame!

Whether it's a beachside retreat or a cabin in the woods, the A-frame is a special type of building. You might recall the quirky triangle structures from vacations of yore, complete with avocado kitchens and shag carpets. But thanks to Instagram, nostalgia, and the allure of a certain way of life, the A-frame is back and better than ever.

We've seen more A-frames as vacation rentals, tiny A-frame cabins that cost just $700 to build, and even a flatpack version that sets up in six hours. The latest to catch our eye are kit homes from Estonia-based Avrame.

Indrek Kuldkepp, founder and owner of Avrame, first designed his own A-frame as a comfortable, efficient, and affordable home that could be built quickly and easily. After Kuldkepp realized that his A-frame cost about half as much as other homes to build, he decided to start a business selling self-build A-frame kits.

Avrame now sells 11 different models of A-frames, from tiny backyard sheds to larger versions that can comfortably fit a family. All the models feature full-length windows to provide natural light The Duo 100, for example, is on the smaller size at about 613 square feet, with one bedroom and one bathroom on the main level and a sleeping loft up above. The largest model, the Trio 120, has 1,300 square feet of living space with three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

When you buy an Avrame, the kit includes timber, the roof, the floor structure, windows and doors, building accessories, and a full set of drawings for building the structure. Avrame doesn't provide the building foundation or the interior finishings, but they do say that two people with reasonable skills can build the kits themselves. The entire process-from choosing a kit to moving in-usually takes four to eight months.

Avrame says their homes are more efficient and maintain heat better than traditional A-frames thanks to durable structural insulated panels. You can also add onto to any model by making the A-frame longer.

Prices range according to the size of the A-frame, with the largest model-the Trio 120-costing about $35,000.

Since we first reported on Avrame, a US outpost has set up shop in Salt Lake City, Utah, with a new US-specific website here. Designed to pass the most common building code requirements in the U.S., Avrame USA works with each client to determine local requirements and makes adjustments as needed. The good news, however, is that this means that Avrame kits are now available in all 50 states. Head over here for more.

Courtesy of Avrame

The interior of the Duo model by Avrame, one of the mid-size kit homes.

Courtesy of Avrame

All of the kit homes can accommodate wood burning or gas fireplaces.

Courtesy of Avrame

The small kitchen area of the Duo feels airy thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows.

Courtesy of Avrame

The exterior of the Trio model.

Courtesy of Avrame

The interior of the Trio, one of the larger models.

Courtesy of Avrame

Large windows bring the outdoors in with the Trio model.

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Trader Joe's Turned Buttermilk Pancakes Into a Loaf of Bread, and Consider Us Sold

Making fresh buttermilk pancakes is quite possibly the best way to spend a slow morning, but Trader Joe's Pancake Bread might be our new quick fix. The new bakery item was just released in some Trader Joe's stores, and shoppers are excited about the breakfast hybrid. It's described as "a twist on a buttermilk short stack, baked into a sweet, moist loaf," and it's ready to be sliced or devoured straight from the package.

From the looks of the crumbly, semicrunchy top layer, this definitely reminds us of coffee cake, which is a very good thing. A cup of coffee with a slice of sweet, pancake-esque bread? We can think of worse ways to start a day. Get a closer look at the new Trader Joe's product ahead, and then check out pancake mixes that pack a protein punch.

Related:

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The Absolute Best New Trader Joe's Products of 2018

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4 Weed Killer Mistakes a Lawn Care Service Will Help You Avoid in Lagrangeville, NY

Weeds are a common foe of many Lagrangeville, NY, homeowners. But their attempts to get rid of crabgrass or other types of weeds tend to result in weed overgrowth. You can bring life back to your patchy, unhealthy lawn and avoid weed killer mistakes by hiring a professional to take great care of your yard.

Mistake #1: Relying on One or Too Many Herbicides

Lots of factors go into properly handled weed control, such as timing and frequency of herbicide use, the types of herbicides used, and proper lawn fertilizing. One of the biggest mistakes by homeowners is relying solely on one or a mixture of too many herbicides to get the job done, not realizing that improper herbicide use is one of the easiest ways to damage the lawn and increase the number of new weeds.

Weed control requires knowledge and dedication to do it right. Weeds are resilient and difficult to control, so applying just a herbicide, especially when the weeds are too tall, doesn't even come close to solving this problem.

To tackle weed issues in your lawn, our team at Lehigh Lawns & Landscaping Inc. offers the Premium 5 Step Lawn Fertilization Program. This program will keep your lawn weed-free and healthy all year-round. It includes applications of organic fertilizer, weed control, and the prevention of crabgrass, dandelions, and grubs from finding a home in your lawn. It is a plan that ensures weeds are under control even before they have the chance to spread.

Related: When to Apply Weed Killers in Wappingers Falls, NY

Mistake #2: Not Investing in a Proper Weed Management Plan

Possibly the biggest mistake of homeowners regarding weed control is not undertaking a weed prevention plan. As a rule of thumb, it is easier-and more cost-effective-to prevent weed with a pre-emergent fertilizer program than to try to control them with a post-emergent one.

On top of it, homeowners usually lack the time to learn how to use a pre-emergent herbicide, how to apply it, how to choose the right one, what is the correct percentage of components, or how to fertilize properly. With our fertilization program, you can rest assured that the overall health of the lawn is in good hands. Contact us for a free estimate for getting your beautiful yard back.

Mistake #3: Overwatering and Frequent Mowing

Just like everything in nature, your lawn needs a specific amount of water to be healthy. Having too much of a good thing-in this case, water-can cause greater damage to the yard. Unfortunately, weeds like overwatering and are likely to thrive and take over the lawn when grass has a difficult time deepening their root system.

Related: How to Keep Pets Safe from Weed Killers in Fishkill, NY

You may think mowing the grass more often would be the answer. However, frequent mowing may uproot the nutrients the grass needs and allow weeds to grow more rapidly and thicker than before. Mowing about once a week will keep your lawn in top shape. Professional lawn services offer the knowledge and care your grass needs.

Mistake #4: Not Contacting a Professional Lawn Care Service

Applying low amounts of herbicides may damage your grass instead of killing the weeds you don't want. The best tip you can receive regarding weed control is to contact a professional lawn care service-especially when things are getting out of control. Lawn care service will save you from the nightmare of weeds.

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The Vast, Incredible World of Peruvian Sandwiches

It's late morning on a Sunday in Lima, the coastal capital of Peru. The sky is a dull gray color, which the locals call panza de burro-"donkey's belly"-typical of the city's skyline for all but maybe three months out of the year. Most residents of the “thrice-crowned city of kings,” as it was known in the colonial era, are filing out of one of its many, many Catholic churches. After all, the Church (always with a capital C) holds a legally privileged status in this country. Those who aren't religious may just be waking up from a pisco-fueled, all-night jarana.

On these days, limeños-whether religious or secular-are united in a nearly singular hunger for one particular type of dish: sánguches. In Lima, sandwiches are closely associated with breakfast, not lunch. You can get a sandwich almost any time of day in the city, which makes them rather unique in the Lima food world. Food is on a very strict schedule here. Good luck trying to find good ceviche past lunchtime, for instance, and you may want to say a little prayer to El Señor de los Milagros if you want to savor anticuchos (grilled beef heart skewers) before sundown. But Lima's many sangucherías are often some of the first food businesses to open, and many still serve their meaty, hand-held specialties well into the night.

Read More >>

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What Are You Content With Right Now?

Oh the gloriousness of a fresh new year… a blank slate!

So many goals, resolutions, and aspirations.

So many things we want to change.

Maybe this is the year you're finally going to:

put more into your savings account

pay off debt

lose those last 10 (or 50) pounds

start eating healthier

join a gym and actually go each week

get more organized

better manage your time

start up the business you've talked about for years

finally ask for that promotion at work

heal a broken relationship

start (or finish) a big home renovation

revamp your wardrobe

simplify your beauty routine

get more involved in your church or school

start up a local charity

volunteer more

I'm sure you have a long list!

These are all fantastic goals and aspirations… I certainly do NOT want to deter you from working towards fulfilling something you feel very passionate about.

However, before we get too carried away making all sorts of changes and “improvements”, I'd like to encourage you to stop and note at least 5 things you are currently very content with.

What do you do really well?

What do you love about your life?

What do you enjoy most about your job?

What are your favorite physical features?

What space in your home gives you the most joy?

What (or who) makes you happiest each day?

What is one thing you definitely do NOT want to change?

What area of your life are you completely satisfied with?

.

With all the busyness of the holiday season - trying to make an appearance at every event, buying the “perfect” gifts, sending color-coordinated Christmas cards, making the most appetizing meals, hosting the best parties - followed by the pressure of making the most ambitious New Years resolutions or setting the most impressive goals, it can be easy to lose sight of everything we have to be thankful and grateful for.

Consider today's post a little exercise in contentment that will hopefully help you to destress, relax, slow down, regroup, and feel satisfied with yourself today (and moving forward) instead of only thinking of everything you want to change or improve. 

There is plenty of time for change and improvement this year (I fully encourage you to push forward with your goals) but for today, just take a deep breath and enjoy anything you are perfectly content with right now.

Even if you can only think of 5 teeny tiny things, it's nice to know we are content with something! 

I realize many of the thoughts floating around in your head right now might be very personal - but if there's something you'd like to share (or just put in writing) feel free to leave it in the comments!

What are YOU most content with right now?

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The post What Are You Content With Right Now? appeared first on Andrea Dekker.

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Simple Green Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

Every cook should know how to make a simple side salad and lemon vinaigrette. It's the easy side dish to pair with just about any entrée, comes together in 10 minutes with simple ingredients, and is incredibly versatile. Let me show you how it's done.

Start with a base of greens. We went with spring greens, but I also love spinach as a base, as well as thinly sliced kale, arugula, and romaine.

Simple Green Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette from Minimalist Baker →

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GOLDEN GLOBES 2019

A word of warning!!!! If you are one of those who doesn't care to hear negative opinions or doesn't believe one's $10,000 dress deserves any criticism or critiquing, then you should just close this up and come back in a few days when I publish a fabulous story about a house in Beverly Hills.  You've been warned!To me, the 2019 Golden Globes fashion show was a huge disappointment.�� Maybe I was

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Open Shelves Styled for Winter

The post-holiday home can be a confusing one to decorate, am I right?  Do I take down all the decorations?  Leave some of them?  Why does my house look so empty?  These are the burning questions churning through my mind, you guys.  I've really simplified everywhere, but I left a few of the holiday decorations, that can also pass as winter decor on my open shelving in the eating area.  The result is a pretty, winter-y open shelving situation.

The funny thing about these shelves, is that I've really changed them very little since I got these open shelves almost 3 years ago. Sure, I add or remove things on occasion, but they've stayed very similar for a long time.  For my holiday decor, I added some LED House Ornaments, and some sparkly, winter sprigs in copper little copper canisters.  I also added some twinkly garland at the top.  To me, this whole look completely passes as “winter appropriate,” so I just left them as-is for the remainder of the winter.

I love the idea that I can leave some of my holiday decor out for the next few months.  I really love the clean and fresh feel of the house after the Christmas decorations are put away, but I also love leaving a little bit of sparkle out.

I'm working on a post for next week that highlights 20 of my current favorite decor pieces for under $40.  If you're looking for some open-shelving inspiration, be sure to check back!

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Turn on your JavaScript to view content

Last year I wrote a post with all of my tips for How to Style Open Shelves, be sure to check it out!

Have a great day!

The post Open Shelves Styled for Winter appeared first on House by Hoff.

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IS TERM INSURANCE PURE PROTECTION PLAN?

We live in a world filled with risks and uncertainties. People, their families, their properties and their assets are constantly at exposed to a variety of risks. Insurance plans are a vital part of every person's life for it acts as a safety net for when an individual is in need of monetary assistance due to certain circumstances. In the finance industry, there is a large assortment of insurance plans ranging from health, home, vehicle, travel and even life insurance that an individual can opt for to protect his assets better and be equipped to handle any unfortunate incident that were to occur concerning the particular insurance policy.

Before proceeding further, it is crucial to know what is term insurance and what is meant by pure protection plan.

What is term insurance? Term insurance or term life insurance is life insurance that provides coverage for payment at a particular allotted fixed rate for a certain period as agreed during the initiation of the policy. This fixed term is the relevant term. If the insured individual happens to pass away before the end of the tenure of the life policy, then the death benefit from the policy is paid to the beneficiary as per mentioned in the policy itself during its agreement.

Term insurance is generally the most effective and least expensive method of paying a substantial amount of death benefit

What is meant by pure protection plan?

Pure protection plans or pure term plan is plan that secure and protect you for a particular period in exchange for a regular fixed premium. Term insurances are by far the easiest and also the most monetarily effective method of providing future and continuous financial support and security for your dependants if you meet with any unforeseen tragedies.

  Term insurance as a pure protection plan

Term insurance is the purest form of insurance payment the pays a premeditated amount of money to those who are mentioned as your dependents for a specific period if the insured dies during that time. After the demise of the insured, the term insurance of the life insurance policy pays the face value of the policy itself to the beneficiary or nominated individual mentioned in the policy at the time of the agreement. The cost of insurance protection with no survival benefit is covered by all the premiums that are paid. The insurance coverage ends with the completion of the term of the policy until and unless it is renewed before the expiry of the policy. This is the greatest and the most advantageous way of providing financial support and security to your dependents if you happen to meet your unforeseen death

  Advantages of term insurance as a pure protection plan

A term insurance plan has some benefits that are suited to any insurer looking to provide security and protection to his or her nominees.

Financial Security: this benefit is most advantageous to those who are the chief earners of sustenance in a family or group. Term insurance provides financial security for those looking for a way out during times for monetary crunch. In the event of the death of the prime earner, the sum assured can be used by the dependant to clear of any outstanding loans, child education fees, carry on with daily household expenses and any other liabilities that need to be taken care of.

Customizability:  term insurances are customizable. This means that you as an insurer can select the coverage amount, the period of the term for the policy and even the chose whether the payout option will be a lump sum plan or an income replacement term plan. You can choose the payout option depending on your family condition. If your family cannot afford to make a lump sum payment in your absence, you can customize the term insurance so that the payout can be done via a term insurance plan for income replacement. Here the payout can be done concerning the family monthly earning over a period.

Paid sub-features: if you so desire, then the coverage can be widened with the help of paid and optional features under term insurance plan. These sub-features of term insurance are called term plan riders. There are various types of term insurance riders:- ~critical illness ~total and permanent disability ~accidental death benefit ~hospital cash ~waiver of premium Any of the above term insurance rider and be opted for by the insured to widen the coverage of his or her term insurance in general.

Tax Benefits: under Section10 ( 10 D ) of the Income Tax Act, the payout of the term insurance is tax-free and also under Section 80 C of the Income Tax Act, all premiums that are paid by the insured are also liable to tax deductions.

Simplicity:  term insurance is a simple and uncomplicated insurance product. There are not convoluted rules or schemes that need to be critically understood. It is a simple and easy process. This is not a frill-product. Simply by comparing and buying the term insurance that best suits you on an online platform is all that is required.

Reduced Premiums:  Best term insurance plans are relatively cheaper than most insurance products that are out there. As a pure protection plan, there is no investment component in term insurance. The only cover is of the untimely death of the insured. This means that the only premiums that are calculated are ones for mortality charge.

Higher assured sum: you can opt for lower and higher assured sums according to t your comfort zone. This will help assure you that your family will still be financially secure if you are not there anymore to support them. In such a case, the family of the insured will be left with a high corpus. This will help them achieve independency and will be able to make it through hard times more easily and comfortably.

Online Availability of term insurance

Being such a simple insurance product, one can look for and find a term life insurance online with ease. There, one can collect data and information about the various types of policies and the features of each policy. Being customizable, a potential insurance holder can customize their term insurance so that they may reap the maximum benefit out from it and in the event of the death of the insured, his or her family will be able to avoid a financial crisis. The most effective way to choose term insurance is to compare and contrast between policies online. Online availability allows one to compare different term insurance policies of different insurance companies and choose the one which best suits you. Once you have found the right term insurance for you, you can pay the premium online itself and save yourself a lot of hassles.

  Term insurance is a very viable and popular choice as a pure protection plan that will allow the dependants of the insured to be monetary viable even after his or her death.

There are but a few limitations of term insurance as a pure protection plan:

~ The premium amount for the policy tends to increase with age. This means that those who are young will have to pay less amount of premium than those who are comparatively older for the same amount of sum assured. A person who is of age 25 years will have to pay less amount of premium for an assured sum as whereas those above the age of 25 years will have to play a relatively higher amount of premium even if it is for the same amount of sum assured.

~This type of plan is not very suitable if the target is wealth generation. Term insurance primarily focuses on helping the family of the insured remain monetarily viable after the death his or her death during the term for the policy. And long term or short term goals like children's education or retirement is not applicable to this type of scheme.

~The age for the maturity of the policy is not according to the lifespan of the insured. To be able to make the most of the death benefit, the death of the policyholder must occur within the stipulated period. Only If the demise of the policyholder happens during the tenure of the policy, will the family of the insured be given the assured sum. If the policyholder dies after the completion of the period, no assured sum or death benefit can be claimed by the nominees or beneficiaries mentioned by the late policyholder.

~Finally, the maximum amount of coverage that can be acquired is limited. The annual income of the policyholder restricts the coverage of term insurance even with added term insurance riders.

  Bearing all this on the mind, Term insurance is a great and easy, pure protection plan that will allow you to ensure that even after your death, your family and loved ones will be able to continue and comfortably have the financial strength to sustain themselves.

The post IS TERM INSURANCE PURE PROTECTION PLAN? appeared first on Prairie Eco-Thrifter.

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An Arts & Crafts Home in Maine Full of Old & New Stories

I love a good house story - one that runs deep with history and mixes in the right amount of charm. I also love to learn about the history of a home as much as I like to see the house in present form. A few years ago, an older man showed up at my door and wanted to tell me all about growing up in my house. He shared stories about him and his brother as young children, where the family phone hung in the kitchen, and where they put their Christmas tree each year. Many of the little quirks of my 1890 home were revealed.

Ben Ray and Ali Malone have a similar story. After moving around the country, these Portland, ME natives wanted to get back to the community they grew up in and raise a family there. When asked what drew them back to their hometown, Ben shares, “Portland is the perfect 'little city' of roughly 70,000 people. It's a community where you walk down the street and people smile and say 'hello' to you; it's a community that supports the arts, cultivates creative types and small businesses, has award-winning restaurants (but is still super laid-back!) and still has some salty bars - and yes, salty people too. It is the place where we intend to grow old together.” When they first returned to Portland, the couple began renovating commercial spaces and homes, paying homage to each space's architecture as well as their ability to shift styles to fit each building.

When Ali, a real estate broker and developer, was eight months pregnant, they found their 1904 Arts and Crafts style home. Built by famed architects John Calvin Stevens and John Howard Stevens for the Stevens family, it was then added onto in 1914. “We were drawn to the fact that JHS had designed this house to use personally (it was the first house he designed as a partner at the firm). He started his family in the house and you can feel that in the space. It has a casualness and practicality that spoke to us - it felt modern for the era,” Ben says. As a young girl, Ali used to play in that same house, as it was later home to one of her classmates. “Ali spent quite a bit of time in this house as a child. One of her good friends in elementary school lived in the house decades ago. She had memories of playing in the room that now belongs to our son, Atticus… Reentering the house as potential buyers nearly three decades later was totally surreal for her.”

Ben runs his growing company Evangeline Linens from an office on the second floor of their house. Since he and Ali are both able to work from home, the mornings are spent at a slower pace, savoring the morning light in their living room with their two children, and spending time as a family, often with impromptu dance parties. In a home rich with art and modern furniture, each decorative item lends well to the space while also adding to the existing charm. Ben leaves us with this piece of decorating advice, “Layer in pieces over time. Buy things that you love and not what you are 'supposed' to love. Edit and remove stuff periodically. And buy lots of art!” Scroll below for the full home tour. -Erin

Photography by Erin Little / @erinlittlephoto

Image above: “The painting above the fireplace (painted on the actual mantel, not a hanging painting) was done by the original owner/architect's father, John Calvin Stevens (a nationally renowned architect). The small paintings sitting on the mantel are by Michel Droge. Vintage owl andirons (with glass eyes) were found at a flea market in Midcoast Maine,” Ben shares. 

[sundaysandthorm-blog]

Gardens get Buffaloed

Here's a book that raises all kinds of interesting questions. Like:

Can a city have its own style of gardening?

Assuming that it can, how does such a style arise?

What are its main characteristics?

Do the people living in this city know that there's a gardening style just for them?

How did a city known mainly for blizzards and the invention of the chicken wing as a bar snack get so gardening-crazy?

I may not be the one to answer most of these questions. For one thing, my garden is one of many featured in the book (among dozens of others throughout Western New York). I may be too close to the whole enterprise, so consider this an announcement rather than a review.

That said,  Buffalo's way with gardens does seem to be a thing. Garden writers from out of town either love it or they compare it with the gardens generally featured in magazines and turn up their noses a bit. I remember one editor from a previous iteration of the now defunct Garden Design saying to me, “I can see that these gardens are  … attractive, but they're not the type of gardens we feature.” She then asked me if a Buffalo garden designed in 1903 by Bryant Fleming was still in good shape. I wasn't sure. This was in 2006, and the Garden Walk Buffalo book had just come out; I was trying to convince her to come and check out Buffalo, but, clearly, she wasn't having any. Times have changed since then. Buffalo has hosted a GWA conference, the percentage of out-of-town visitors to Garden Walk continues to grow, and, now, this book.

Buffalo's gardening style has attracted the favorable attention of Pittsburgh-based St. Lynn's Press, who commissioned Jim Charlier, a longtime volunteer for Garden Walk who's famous for his Buffalo garden (the shed!), and Sally Cunningham, longtime garden writer, to write a book that defines Buffalo-style gardens once and for all. Unlike the Garden Walk book, which really focused on that event and the gardens on it, this title is organized by garden elements considered dominant in Western New York gardens and how similar effects might be achieved by other gardeners. There are chapters on paths, edging, furniture, décor, and other basic elements, but the examples and illustrations show how WNY gardeners have addressed such universal gardening issues. It is within these solutions that the definition of Buffalo-style might be found.

The book comes out in February, but those interested might want to preorder; I think it's likely to sell out of its first run.

Gardens get Buffaloed originally appeared on GardenRant on January 8, 2019.