Interior decorator helps sell homes by advising on paint colors, window treatments, and flooring upgrades

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My whole life I had wanted to be an interior decorator. I love to draw and paint and rearrange my room. I excelled in art and design classes in high school, and of course studied design and art in college. My degree in fine arts included courses in photography, digital design, and so on, but my true passion had always been interior design. I loved picking out color schemes, making mock up boards of the colors and furniture I liked for any given room, and providing advice to friends and family about what kinds of furniture, paint, and other decor they should put in their homes.

Right out of college I was hired as a junior designer at a firm where I had interned the previous summer. While before I had been getting coffee and answering phones, and only occasionally getting to sketch or put together design boards, now I was designing full time. One of our regular clients was a real estate firm who used our designers to help stage homes for selling, and most of the designers at the firm hated doing that particular work so they rotated off and on that job. As a brand new designer, that was my first job, and I actually ended up loving it. Part of what made it challenging was most of the time I had to work with what people already had in their homes. Additionally, if they did agree they needed something like new window treatments, they did not want to spend much money on it since they were on their way out of the house.

I grew to love that job and worked on it almost full time. I would advise on paint colors, helped pick out Hunter Douglas shutters, and counseled clients on whether they should refinish their hardwood floors or leave them for the next person to buy the home. Frequently the choice came down to whether or not the house would sell without them taking any of my recommendations. Some clients, particularly those who still lived in the house while showing it, absolutely refused to change the layout, the paint, or get new window treatments. Those clients inevitably had a harder time showing their homes, and they sat on the market for considerably longer than those that let me have free reign over moving their furniture or suggesting new paint colors.

Nearly every client balked at major renovations, such as upgrading tile or adding hardwood floors, and most of them could get away without doing those things. I provided suggestions for both how to get your home to sell, and how to get your home to sell for more, and those upgrades tended to inform the latter of the two. Nothing sells a home quite like a brand new kitchen floor and counters, or appliances, but not everyone can afford those changes either. So for those who wanted my help but could not afford big changes, we stuck with paint, blinds, and rearranging furniture and lighting. It still can go a long way without too much money being spent.

Hunter Douglas shades

Montessori programs include pre-school

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Many people hear montessori education and they think that it includes only school aged children and curriculum. But montessori education also includes pre-school and day care. Many busy working parents want their children to be able to play and have a fun day, while also learning things and growing in the development of their motor skills and social skills around other children. There are other options that are more specific to those needs than just a regular day car down the street from your work or your home. The montessori education includes practices and teaching for montessori educators that is for pre-school aged children and day care style situations. While the main method of student led learning that happens as a part of the montessori education process is not always necessarily suitable for the pre-school aged child, there are many factors that can be taken from the montessori education and put into the pre school environment.  There are more teachers in the room for the pre school and the day care environments than there are with the older children, as the younger children still need to be watched and held on a much more regular basis than those who are closer to age six and seven. But the idea that children can spend time doing what they enjoy, and doing something that they are choosing to do, still works with the pre school and the day care environments. While an older child may be honing their motor skills by drawing in a book and keeping their colors between the lines, the younger child in the day care or the pre school may be trying to capture water from a bowl with a large spoon. This will require supervision and more guidance than an older child in the montessori education program, but it is still utilizing the same principles that were developed at the start of the montessori movement.  The pre school in the montessori school will still have snack and meal times, and nap times, and there will be times for outside play that the children can enjoy, there are also structured learning times, though to the pre school aged child, they will just feel like play times. There are also still the same ideas about allowing the child to pick the game or lesson that they want to do, rather than have something hoisted onto them. This helps them to develop their sense of self, and their ideas about what they enjoy and what they like to do. The play times will still be teaching them things that are necessary at the pre-school stage, like playing well with others and learning the use their hands, and their eyes, etc. to make things around them function. Like holding a spoon to eat their snack, or like putting big blocks into the same size hole. They are playing, but they are also learning and growing. And this is why it can be so beneficial for a child to begin their pre school years in a montessori style education.

montessori education

The many options of a fireplace

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While fireplaces have come a long way and are much safer now than they ever have been in the past, when considering whether or not to add on a fireplace insert to your home you need to make sure you are well aware of what you are doing and have assessed all of the safety concerns. Since modern electric fireplaces don’t actually burn wood the otherwise large danger of making sure you have proper ventilation is no longer an issue. When I had a fireplace as a kid I remember having a chimney sweep come over every year or so to clean out all of the black chunky build up that had collected in our chimney. I remember always being a little disappointed that the man coming to clean the chimney never looked like the chimney sweep boys I saw in my favorite musicals. My dad used to explain to me that this man had to come over and get the black chunks out of the chimney so that we could use our fireplace again so it would be safe. The cleaning process seemed like a mess and quite a pain. I am glad that most people don’t actually have to do that anymore. With electric fireplaces it is usually just gas burning or some even work off of electricity so nothing really is actually burning that would cause any build up. This all being said though, a number of fireplaces do require some sort of small ventilation so it is important to talk to your fireplace retailer to see what the recommendations are for how to keep your new fireplace working as effectively and as safely as possible. Even electric fireplaces though still are an open flame in your home so just because you don’t have to clean the chimney anymore doesn’t mean that all of the risks are averted. fireplaceWhen figuring out where to install your fireplace it is important to think about things like if you have little children running around and if so, where could a fireplace be put where the kids wouldn’t run into it. While the fire itself is contained behind a glass pane so kids can’t actually get into the fire, the glass can get incredibly hot so if you have a bustling kid around the fireplace needs to be in a place where the kids cannot get to it. Every year a number of people burn themselves by accidentally touching the hot glass of fireplaces. It’s not just kids either, I am sad to say that I even as an adult had accidentally gotten too close to an electric fireplace and burnt myself a bit. As long as you move quickly you aren’t in any real danger but it shows just how important it is to make sure you have looked at all of the safety precautions when deciding where to put your new fireplace. Once you have taken everything into consideration, you can sit back, relax and enjoy your wonderful new home fireplace. It is great to snuggle up close to during the winter or just sitting and watching it after work.

Carpet Cleaning One Of Many Options Considered On Popular Show About Flipping Homes

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One of the reality television shows out there today that is truly a fun one to watch is a couple, both of whom are realtors, who decided after the housing bubble burst and started to recover that they would start buying houses up for cheap and flipping them. With renovations and additions, they could then sell those houses at market value and if they managed the budget and the property correctly, they would be making a profit.

The trick, they explain, is to budget very carefully. The renovations and the cost of the house itself up front together must combine for less than the price that they want to list the house for ultimately, or else, they have lost money by buying and renovating a home. If a home is in really poor shape and is very cheap it might seem like a good idea to snap it up off the market. However, if the cost of the renovations on the home will still not bring it to market value for that neighborhood, it is not worth the investment at all. An excellent team of contractors and landscapers also back them up in their business by visiting houses with them and providing estimates of the costs that will be incurred before the couple actually buys a fixer-upper property.

Some of the homes are on the market because they are short sale, and do not need a whole lot of work besides maybe carpet cleaning, paint, and some new blinds. Others  are on the market, and usually for cheap, when they have not been updated in decades and are poorly designed and out of touch with modern design techniques. This is where the contractors come into play. The couple are both real estate agents, not contractors, so they need additional help in determining whether the value of the renovations will bring the home up to the value of that neighborhood’s market or whether they should pass. There is a big difference, for example, between a good carpet cleaning and ripping up or replacing carpet altogether with new carpet or even a different type of flooring. It is up to the contractor to help them decide whether they can take the more affordable option on certain aspects or whether the carpet cleaning simply will not suffice, and new floors are needed.

The show is great, and covers a lot of different angles of the real estate market. It shows the challenges and pitfalls, as well as some fantastic opportunities if you can spot the right house for the right price. It also teaches good business practices. If the cost of the house and the renovations will make the break-even point of the house too expensive to sell in the given market they are working in, then they will pass on the house and move on to finding another. With a keen eye and a good team of contractors behind them, this dynamic duo is a real treat to watch. There is a little something for everyone on the show.

upholstery cleaning

 

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The Thing to Do, When Dealing with a Water Catastrophe, is Call an Austin Water Damage Company.

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Austin water damageDealing with a ruptured pipe or a backed up sewer issue in your home can be utterly frustrating.  This sort of problem can be a messy and destructive thing to deal with, but, fortunately, there is something you can do.  The thing you can do is call an emergency Austin water damage company to solve your water catastrophe.  As they are an emergency service, they are available twenty four hours a day, and they should show up in an hour or less.  If you are dealing with leakage or a backed up sewer, though, even one hour may seem like a very long time.

There are many different events that can lead to water damage, but most of them are related to either precipitation or plumbing.  In the case of either cause of water damage, the extent of the damage can vary greatly.  Some plumbing issues are very minor and end up causing only superficial water damage, to the carpet or another surface.  On the other hand, some plumbing problems can be quite destructive.  To be on the safe side, you should always contact a water damage company, regardless of how minor you think your plumbing problem is.  If it is more severe than you think, it could be having terrible consequences for your possessions, as well as for your home, itself.

If you are worried it will cost you to contact the emergency Austin water damage personally, you should put your mind at ease.  The consultation and initial inspection and estimate is always free.  That begin said, the repairs themselves could be fairly costly, depending on the severity of the damage.  Fortunately, they give you accurate estimates right from the beginning, so you do not have to worry about them raising the price as they go along.

Because water damage is so messy, the first step in restoring your home is removing the water, as well as whatever mess it left in its wake.  The technical term for removing the water is extraction because it involves extracting every last drop of moisture, using advanced techniques.  This is highly important because leaving a little bit of moisture behind could have very bad consequences.  One of the worst consequences of residual moisture is black mold, which is a deadly type of mold that can develop and grow in moist, dark conditions.  This means that damp basements are the perfect environment for it.  The other major reason as to why even a trace amount of residual moisture can be bad is the fact that it can weaken and destroy a variety of materials in your home, including your woodwork.  This means that if the water damage was extensive enough, it could have reached the frame of your home, in which case its integrity could be compromised.  After all, it does not take long for moisture to soften wood to the point where it will break, which would lead to the collapse of your home if your frame was affected.  All of this can be prevented, though, if you contact the emergency water damage experts in Austin, as soon as you have a problem.

Retired Couple Buys General Steel Garage For Their RV

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Louis and Kathy had always planned on buying an RV when they finally decided to retire. They wanted to be able to drive across the country and see their grandchildren at any time, as well as vacation wherever they wanted to. They would still keep their own home, of course, but the freedom of a recreational vehicle would allow them to up and go at a moment’s notice wherever and whenever they wanted.

Louis retired first, and Kathy a couple of years later. Shortly before her retirement they started looking into purchasing the RV, and planning for how to store it. They wanted to keep it nearby and have access to it at all times, so storing it at a local RV park would not work. They would certainly utilize RV parks across the country as they were driving, but while they were home, they needed somewhere to park it. There was no way it would fit in their driveway, so they started looking for options to expand their garage.

A contractor called to build the additional space onto their existing garage gave them a quote way outside their budget, and estimated that it would take several months to finish. They were overwhelmed, and told him no. This was not shaping up the way they thought it would, but they had not given up yet. When their neighbors got wind of the plan and the hiccough they were stuck at with it, they suggested to Kathy and Louis that it would be worth their time and money to invest in a pre-fabricated steel building from a company like General Steel, instead of trying to build on another addition to their home.

Kathy and Louis realized they were right. A permanent addition to their home would require homeowner’s association approval, expensive design changes, and might not add any value to its resell price down the road. Purchasing a General Steel building would allow them the flexibility to both meet the specifications of the RV and also move when they were ready to move, and take their RV and its garage with them. The flexibility to do so was important to them, and the price was affordable.

They called General Steel, and they were incredibly helpful and responsive. One great quote and design later, and Kathy and Louis had picked out their new RV garage. Within weeks, and just before Kathy’s retirement, the structure was in place and they were ready to purchase their new RV. Louis had picked out just the right one and was planning to surprise Kathy with it for her retirement gift. She certainly was surprised, but thrilled, and they were both grateful for the money they had saved and the flexibility they had gained by buying a pre-fabricated building. Even the automobile insurance company was able to give them a discount on their RV insurance because they were keeping it covered in a locked garage. The investment was more than worth it, and Kathy and Louis are very much looking forward to their first road trip next week to see their grandchildren.

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Couple Purchases General Steel Garage For Automobile Restoration Projects

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Nicholas had been a car enthusiast his whole life, and loved to collect and restore cars. He would not keep too many at a time, usually because of space restraints, and would often resell them after doing the restoration work on them. His passion was fixing up old cars, and he loved doing it more than any other hobby. When he got married, he and his wife searched high and low for a house that had enough space for him to keep several cars at a time, along with hers. The most they could ever find was a three car garage, and even those were few and far in between for their price range and neighborhood.

Eventually they did settle on a house with a three car garage and it held his wife’s car, his regular car, and had just enough room for one more car for him to work on. Nicholas resigned himself to only being able to work on one car at a time, but when he was finished with the first car in that new house, and was waiting for it to sell, he got anxious. He was used to having as much time as he wanted to work on cars, and now he did not have the space. His wife noticed his frustration but was not sure what to do about it, so she started asking around. Her research ultimately led her to General Steel and their pre-fabricated steel buildings. There were a variety of designs and customs that she and Nicholas could choose from to get the right size structure for him to continue to work on cars in his own home.

Their large backyard was the perfect place for additional garage space, and General Steel was able to match their specifications exactly. In no time at all, Nicholas and his wife and their friends were busy assembling and wiring an extra garage in their spacious backyard. The new garage technically could fit only two and a half cars, but the extra space would be used for storage and all of Nicholas’ tools that came along with his restoration efforts. In no time at all, the General Steel building was up and ready to be used. Between the extra garage space that came with the house and the new space behind the house, Nicholas could have several different car projects going at once, as if he were operating his own little mechanic shop out of their home.

Nicholas learned his lesson after knowing what it felt like to not be able to do the work he wanted to do in his spare time, and his wife learned something about him as well. They also realized though that they do not have to let the size of any future home’s garage dictate whether or not they purchase a home. With pre-fabricated steel buildings at the ready, they can create enough garage space for Nicholas to work happily almost anywhere they go. And that will be worth the extra effort.

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General Steel makes the difference in steel buildings

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There are many options one can go with when it comes to adding a new building to your property or coming up with an addition onto your home or business. There is wood, of course. There is brick. You can even go with stucco. But why not go with any of those things as well as the guarantee of a prefabricated steel building to keep your building strong and fresh for years to come? That is why going with General Steel makes the difference in any kind of construction project. Sure, you can build a home from just about any kind of material, and it may look nice enough. But it makes a real difference when you use a prefabricated steel building, specifically one that comes from General Steel. Here is why:

http://www.gensteel.comFirst, General Steel has been around for quite some time and is a leader in the steel industry. This is not because they trick their customers and clients and sell poor products. This is because they uphold the highest standards in the industry and want you to receive the best product available. They pride themselves on the high quality of their work, and once you see them in action you will understand why. Best of all, their customers are people you can trust to know what is what in terms of buildings. Walmart and others have used General Steel’s services, so you know you can trust them to provide the highest quality in steel and metal buildings.

Second, General Steel promises a fifty year warranty on all of their steel buildings. This is the standard warranty, not some kind of gimmick thrown out there to entice new customers. General Steel truly provides a fifty year warranty on every one of its buildings. This means that the project you design today will last for your grandchildren to see. Are you a small business owner hoping to pass the family trade down to your children and children’s children? Then you need to keep your business safe and strong inside a steel building. And which company should you use to make that steel building? There is no question: it is General Steel.

Third, General Steel is a nationally acclaimed company, but they act and feel like just your local neighborhood steel building store. Through their corporate office they are able to use the most extensive general contractor network in the industry, and they make this network available for their customers to use. This means that while General Steel is the most recognized name in the steel industry nationwide, they also are truly local to every market in the United States. So if you are looking for a steel building and hesitate with General Steel because you think that the company is too big for you, think again. General Steel is as local as they come.

What more is there to say? General Steel is the industry leader when it comes to prefabricated steel buildings. Give them a call and start your dream project today!

Illnesses Treated at an Urgent Care Center

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An urgent care center primarily treats illness or injuries as soon as possible but does not necessarily require an emergency room visit. It is a form of a walk-in clinic for a convenient access for unscheduled medical care. These Urgent Care Centers serve as alternatives for any type of patients that seek immediate medical attention. They are options for common medical problems when a physician’s office is closed or unable to provide an appointment. These Urgent Care Centers are open seven times a week which makes it very accessible for anyone.

Urgent Care Centers in Tempe

medical care

Urgent care centers in Tempe treat the most common injuries and illnesses – including colds, pulmonary complaints, ear infections, cuts and back pain – in addition to performing simple blood, urine and drug tests and taking X-Ray. Urgent Care Centers do not perform surgery and are not equipped to deal with life-threatening emergencies. Many urgent care centers are busiest in the evenings since they operate in an extended schedule and on weekends, when most doctors’ offices are closed.

One of the few illnesses that can be treated in an urgent care Tempe centers is pulmonary complaints. A few of these are asthma, cough, bronchitis, and cold and flu.

Asthma is a type of chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways. Asthma causes recurring periods of wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe), chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing. The coughing often occurs at night or early in the morning. Asthma may be hereditary family genes, acquired allergies from dust termites, environmental exposures that cause to develop it, extreme weather and definitely a stressful environment.

Asthma can affect anyone and can be a deadly illness that can cut short one’s life if not treated immediately. It is a must to know a few things to have and do when having an asthma attack but it would be best to have a few lists of urgent care Tempe clinics to go if regular medicines can’t better the situation of an asthma attack.

Bronchitis on the other hand is the inflammation of the bronchial tubes which carries air to the lunch. Common symptoms for bronchitis are cough that carries phlegm often accompanied by sore throat and wheezing and chest congestion. Most people at risk for bronchitis are smokers.

Initial treatment for pulmonary type of illnesses is to take lots of fluid intakes preferably water and lot of rest. But for wheezing, inhaled medications might be needed. But when a severe crushing chest pain, wheezing and breathing difficulty, it should be evaluated by a physician.

These types of pulmonary complaints can be easily treated at home if you are accustomed on having it but when worst comes to worst, that’s why Urgent Care Centers are made accessible to anyone.

Stop spending all your time waiting in emergency rooms or trying to schedule appointments with overbooked physicians. Have a list, number to call and a regular physician and visit any Urgent Care Centers in Tempe and see a prompt and friendly medical care.

 

The Benefits of Going to an Urgent Care Center

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Urgent care is fairly new in the medical field and a lot of people are not aware of what it really is about. Hence, they are not able to take advantage of the benefits that this kind of service offers. Not to be confused with emergency services, urgent care is a medical service that provides treatment to illnesses and injuries that are not life threatening.

Urgent Care Extra Tempe

medical care

What urgent care clinics do?

Many patients that have non-emergency needs require immediate attention. But they are frustrated by the long waits they have to do at the emergency room or the weeks it require for them to set up an appointment with a primary care physicians. Urgent care clinics provide an alternative for these patients so they can get the medical attention they need without having to wait long or set up an appointment.

Some of the injuries and illnesses that can be attended to by an urgent care clinic are sprains and minor fractures, eye or ear infections, skin infections, joint paints, asthma, allergy attacks, cuts, wounds, or burns. The services they offer include evaluation and management of non-life threatening conditions, X-rays, laboratory tests, sutures, dispensing prescription medications, and intravenous therapy.

Advantages of Going to an Urgent Care Center

 There are many advantages offered by these centers, such as the Urgent Care Extra Tempe. Among the benefits of going to an urgent care instead of going to a regular physician or emergency room are:

Quicker access to medical care of non-emergent needs – the ample number of staff allow for reduced wait time, unlike in emergency rooms where it could take hours to get treatment

No appointment required – walk-ins are typical for urgent care clinics. Anyone need not have an appointment in order to be serviced promptly.

Extended hours – most clinics open for more than 12hours and are even open during weekends and holidays

Accessible location – most are located in residential areas where the needs are most common so patients can easily find one near their location, like Urgent Care Extra Tempe.

Lower co-payments – co-pays are usually lower compared to emergency rooms

Increasing capability of physicians, physician assistants, and nurses who specialize in urgent care – the growing popularity of urgent care has elevate the training of medical professionals who specialize in the field

Many cases attended to in the emergency rooms are not life threatening. Up to 60% of these cases can be handled outside of the ER. Centers like Urgent Care Extra Tempe can provide quality care for non-emergent needs.

However, if you do suspect of a serious illness or injury you may have to subject yourself or the patient to emergency room care. The American College of Emergency Physicians suggests the following as symptoms requiring emergency care: fainting, severe difficulty of breathing which you suspect to signs of heart attack, and accidents that have serious injuries. But if it is a non-emergent need like treatment for flu or sprain, you can count on an urgent care facility to provide you immediate attention to speed up your recovery.

The Steel For Steel Buildings Matters

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steel buildings Steel is a popular material used for pre engineered steel buildings and the reasons behind this are multifaceted. Steel is a type of alloy. An alloy is, basically, a mixture of two or more elements. Steel is made by mixing and combining different elements, mostly iron and carbon. Just throwing these properties together though does not simply make steel. Rather, it is a process that involves many steps and actions. Different properties are added to either increase or decrease the strength of steel. Steel is known for being extremely strong and this is why it is a popular material used in the construction of many buildings. Steel gets its strength from a  melting down process of the steel to reduce the amount of carbon in it. There are three main types of melting down or heating processes that are used to thermally break down steel. These three processes are annealing, quenching, and tempering. Annealing is the process of heating elements to a very high temperature then rapidly cooling them down, in the most simplistic terms. Quenching is the process of rapid cooling. Tempering is the process to which steel is heated at a much lower temperature than it was initially heated and hardened at in order to reduce some of its hardness. The toughness of steel is the main reason it is such a great building material so these processes are extremely important. Companies like Capital Steel use steel because its toughness, strength, and durability are incomparable to other types of building materials out there. Steel is notoriously strong. But what are the most common uses for steel and why do we use this alloy in these particular ways. Capital Steel uses steel to construct pre-engineered metal buildings for commercial and private use, so steel structures are obviously a popular and common use of this particular material. Buildings are not the only place that steel can be useful. Steel is, in fact, all over the place in your home and probably your place of work, even if you do not realize it. One very interesting and very useful way steel is used is in steel cans. Steel cans hold canned goods, most commonly good. Steel food cans are the most commonly recycled food product. Some other interesting facts about these cans is that the food canned inside of them are free of preservatives and actually just as healthy and nutritious as their fresh and frozen counterparts. Not to mention, steel cans are the most efficient, tamper resistant packaging available in regards to food. So, basically steel has a multitude of purposes, some most of us do not even think about. Steel is actually pretty environmentally conscious as well as it takes the place of wood in many buildings and structures. The strength of steel is also incomparable to other materials. Steel is not only a symbol of strength but an extremely useful material that can, and is, used all over the place. From the kitchen to skyscrapers to recreational steel buildings, its seems that this material is practically everywhere.

 

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Setting a course with Worth Magazine contributors

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I have always struggled to know just how to view my wealth. It was difficult for me at first, because I didn’t earn it myself. I felt a twinge of guilt every time I used the money, to purchase anything at all. Because the money was earned off the hard earned work from my family in prior generations, and I didn’t have any part of that. But now there is so much, that I can’t even spend it all. I don’t want to lose it though, because I don’t want to be the generation that lost the wealth that my ancestors worked so hard to acquire and maintain and grow. So, I started to look into ways that I could ensure that it will continue on long after me, and to be sure that I wasn’t going to be the one who would lose it or spend it all before my time was up. I became an avid reader of Worth Magazine, and through the columns I read there I discovered Marty Erzinger. Marty is a professional wealth advisor who works for Sanctuary Wealth Advisors in Denver, CO. He spent much of his professional career on wall street, and has quite a vast knowledge base of wealth management and legacy planning for those families with wealth. I began to seek him out, and I attended several events where he was a speaker. I finally made the appointment to talk to him myself, and ended up turning over my substantial family wealth to be managed by him and his team. They have a great strategy and have laid out quite a significant plan for the way in which we will use this wealth to create more wealth, a continuing cycle, so that I don’t have to be worried about losing it. Marty Erzinger helped get me to a place where I no longer feel guilty when I buy something or when I travel, and he has provided me an opportunity to give away significant portions of the money that I currently have access to, because the wealth that is making money is going to continue making money. I can now turn to a life where I travel and give away money, where I am a philanthropist. This is going to be a wonderful experience for me, because up until the time that I really took an interest in wealth management and ensuring that I didn’t lose the wealth that my family had worked so hard to achieve, I didn’t know what I was passionate about doing. But after my meetings with Marty Erzinger, I was released to really think about what I wanted to do, and the answer was philanthropy. He made it possible for me to forget about the troubles of having money, and enjoy the gift of using it to help those in need, and essentially the ability to just give it away without worrying about losing it. I now don’t worry, because I know its still out there, creating more wealth for the future family.

marty erzinger

People are Watching Movies, Television, and Everything Else on Home Theater Systems.

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home theater systemsThe way people entertain themselves has been changing over the years.  With the rise in popularity of the internet, home console video games, and high-definition televisions, people are not going out as much for entertainment, especially movies.  Instead, people are watching movies, television, and everything else on home theater systems.  There are many different factors that have led to this.  As I said, or wrote, rather, the technology for home entertainment has progressed greatly.  This is one factor as to why people are staying home.  The other is the fact that Hollywood films seem to have gone downhill in the last decade.  Because of this, it often seems preferable to watch a well-written thought-provoking HBO show than it does to watch an over-produced piece of Hollywood garbage.  Plus, with home theater systems, you can do whatever you want, within the boundaries of the law and human decency.  You can talk on your cell phone during the film, if you want.  Who cares?  It is your home theater, anyway.  In all seriousness, though, there really are many advantages to having a nice home theater system, and there are many different kinds of home theaters, to suit many different lifestyles and budgets.  Some are complete rooms, in and of themselves.  Others are well-integrated into the living room. Both styles of home theater have their advantages.  If you are an avid film watcher and have both the space and the budget, nothing beats an actual custom home theater, compete with a full sized screen and plenty of seating.  With this sort of home theater, you can have many people over to watch your favorite film, television program, or sporting event.  You can have a Boardwalk Empire or Mad Men night, complete with scotch and cigars.  What could be better?  You can also enjoy the year’s most epic sporting events up close and personal.  Of course, not everyone wants to devote an entire wing of their home to a home theater system, which is why there are also home theater systems that can be integrated into your current living room.  Instead of needing to build a whole theater, you can just make your living room as good as a theater.  You can keep your furniture exactly as it is.  You just need to upgrade the sound and picture quality.  With these fully integrated home theater systems, you can get a top of the line digital projector installed.  The other option is to install a very large LED or LCD screen, instead.  Of course, some people actually install both a projector and an LED screen.  One advantage to this integrated kind of home theater system is the fact that your living room does not need to change, at all.  In fact, the speakers can be all but hidden away, so you cannot even see them.  For people who do not want to change the landscape of their home too much, but still want the ultimate entertainment experience, the best choice may be this type of home theater.

We created the perfect engagement ring at Davidson Jewels

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wedding bands

Have you ever heard the expression “you will know it when you see it”? Well, what if you are supposed to know something before you see it? What if you go into a store for a product that doesn’t exist yet? How will you know that you’ve found it if you haven’t even thought it up yet? For anyone that has not been to Davidson Jewels these might sound like the ramblings of a crazy person. However, if on your finger rests a truly magnificent and one of a kind diamond engagement ring then perhaps you have been to Davidson jewels and you know exactly what I am talking about. For the rest of you, this may be an enlightening article because many people are not aware of such incredibly talented jewelry stores.

You say you want to marry her because she is one in 1 million. You told her that she is a once in a lifetime beauty and your perfect match. So then why would you settle for buying your wedding bands from inside the glass case of your local jewelry store. Don’t you think your love and your relationship deserves more attention and thought than that? At Davidson jewels you are a part of the design process from start to finish. Every single curve and future of your ring will be there because you deemed it so. When someone stops to ask you about your ring you can speak to them from a place of real experience and explain every part of the rings features and what they mean.

At every step along the way during this process you will have a design counselor there helping you fashion the ring from conception to a finished product. They will ask you questions that may seem arbitrary but are all aimed at shaping an image of what you want. Maybe you want white gold or platinum as the engagement ring, perhaps the Tiffany or the princess cut for the diamond. There are countless options for you to explore and more than likely if you are sure that you hadn’t thought of yet. By the end of the first day you will have come up with a mental image of what this ring will look like. The next time you meet, there will be something more concrete for you to actually see and hold.

Once the information for your ring sketches have been submitted the technical goo ruse at Davidson tools will create a computer aided draft model of your ring two very exacting specifications. This file is then sent to a high-tech 3-D printer and a wearable wax model ring will emerge. You and your fiancé are then able to try on these wedding bands to make sure they fit and to make sure every detail is just as you want it.

Once you have okayed the initial design Davidson jewels will then source your materials. They look allover the world for the right diamonds of the highest clarity and the best quality. They work with only the very best in the field and the final product is reflective of that.

Cosmetic Surgery is One Means by which People Alter their Appearance.

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Cosmetic surgeryMost people care a lot about their appearance.  Though it is never good to be vain, it is perfectly understandable why someone would want to focus on their appearance, to some degree.  In some cases, people will go to pretty extraordinary lengths to alter certain aspects of their appearance, which they find displeasing in some way.  This can be good if it is done for the right reasons, but many people have taken this ambition too far.  Cosmetic surgery is one means by which people alter their appearance.  Cosmetic surgery is a fairly broad term, which includes many different surgeries.  Though it is referred to as “cosmetic” surgery, it is often recommended by doctors for medical reasons.  On the other hand, it is often undergone by choice by many other people.  In the case of medically necessary cosmetic reconstructive surgery, there may not be time to think about the consequences as long.  The surgeons may have to go through with a certain procedure at that point.  On the other hand, if you are choosing to undergo cosmetic surgery, whether for health or cosmetic benefits, you need to think for a very long time about the potential risks and benefits of the procedure you are considering undergoing.  As a matter of fact, a good cosmetic surgeon will be able to help you figure out whether or not the cosmetic surgery you are interested in is right for you.  In some cases, he or she may advise against the surgery, if it is not in your best interest to have it done.  Good surgeons realize that plastic surgery is serious and will not authorize a procedure they are not fully comfortable with.  So, if you have thought about it long enough and consulted with a reputable surgeon, you may be ready to undergo a procedure.  All plastic surgery is a serious matter, but there is a great deal of diversity in the field.  Some procedures are not very invasive and do not take long to recover from.  Others are very invasive and take much longer to recover from.  The circumstances of your surgical procedure will depend entirely on which procedure it is, who your surgeon is, and various other unforeseeable factors.  Since plastic surgery is a broad subject, it includes procedures that affect all different parts of the body.  Perhaps one of the most important areas that plastic surgery is concerned with is the face.  For many reasons, people put a lot of effort into making their face look how they want it to.  As your face is the first thing people see, it is understandable to want yours to look its best.  One common surgical procedure that is designed to tighten the skin on the face is called a Botox injection.  Botox injections are simple injections of a strong chemical that tighten the skin, removing wrinkles and blemishes.  Because it is very noninvasive, some people have this procedure done very frequently.  The facelift is another skin-tightening procedure that people often have done frequently, but it is done quite differently.

You Need A Well Rounded Roofing Company

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Getting a new roof or even a repair, whether it’s residential or commercial, it’s important to go with the right roofing company so you can be sure that the job is going to get done right. Any roofing company that’s worth its salt has at least a five-faceted game plan to run a successful business and I’m going to talk to you about each of those facets today. There are a lot of companies out their who call themselves roofing companies but they can’t do anything else other than residential. A roofing company that can’t do everything means that they lack knowledge and experience and those are two very valuable things in any business. Now, back to that five-faceted approach to success in the business of roofing. No matter who you go with, make sure that they offer commercial and residential services, repairs, gutter installation and cleaning and insulation. If they don’t offer all of these services then they’re most likely not the best company to hire to do your roof repairroof repair, or your new roof or gutters for that matter. Repairs are some of the hardest things to get right sometimes and it’s the proper experience that is extremely valuable when it comes to repairing a leak in an old house, a commercial warehouse or an apartment building.

1. Commercial Services – A roofing company that offers commercial services proves that they’re experienced and understand the difference between commercial and residential roofing code. This means that they’re less likely to make a mistake or use careless laborers to get the job done.

2. Residential Services – Quite frankly, a roofing company that doesn’t offer residential services better be really busy doing commercial roofs to not have to concern themselves with residential. Usually, the residential market is the bread and butter of the roofing company’s business. A good residential roofer will know what the building code and neighborhood covenants are so that the job gets done right the first time, without breaking any rules in the process.

3. Repair Services – In order for a roofing company to understand how to repair a roof, they need to understand how to install one. When it comes to repairs, experience is key because there are so many different kinds of homes with a lot of different kinds of issues.

4. Gutter Installation and Cleaning – A roofing company that knows what they’re doing will also offer gutters as well. They’re easy to install and they work hand-in-hand with the roofing system in a commercial or residential application. And gutter cleaning services? Why not?

5. Insulation Services – It isn’t cool to not care about energy consumption anymore. It’s important to recycle, drive fuel efficient vehicles, support alternative kinds of energy and properly insulate our homes and buildings. Insulation is important because it helps keep the live or work space warm during the winters and cool during the summers, therefor saves money on heating and air conditioning costs. Who wouldn’t appreciate having a lower electric bill to pay each month? I know I sure would!

Know About Industrial Construction Companies

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When it comes to certain kinds of buildings then industrial construction companies are very much necessary. These are mostly for the steel buildings. These companies help with everything starting from the design to implementing it. To make sure that the things is done in timely fashion there are huge teams to help you out.

When starting the project with these companies you first need the blue print or design. You should work along with the hired architects for this particular aspect to be sure that whatever you want is working. These companies also help you with the ideas if you need it to recover the loss for the certain building parts. If need required then these companies will help you with the design from the starting. These companies are very experienced for the construction of building that promotes productivity. During the process of designing, you along with the company can discuss that what look you want for the building. Not only this, you can also decide that what kind of machinery you want for your company.

These days, efficiency is very important. In utilities, efficiency can end up saving lots of your money. The construction company which you choose will help you to pick the high quality equipment and the most energy efficient one which will then help in cutting back the electric bill. Everybody in this company works together to make sure that in general nothing is overlooked or to make sure that the codes of safety is not violated. Two most important elements of having a smooth running business are the productivity and safety. If the electrical work is not done properly by the electrician then it might cause a fire hazard. The smartest way to save money and time is by hiring the best industrial construction companies. Everyone knows that it is very expensive to build up things that are very large. If something is done in a wrong way then it can leave a negative impact on the entire building.

It is very important to choose reputable industrial construction companies to build up the manufacturing plant. There are various process involved while finding a right contractor. To build a larger commercial project you should follow similar set of guidelines that should be followed in order to find a right team to tackle your work. You should follow these guidelines to do the project.

You should first have your design in order before you bring the project to the contract team. It is very necessary for you to consult with an architect who is able to deal with the large commercial projects. With your designer or architect, you should go through all the ideas and needs for the project. You should now look for the company once the designs for the project is together. There are number of resources that can be consulted in order to find the right contractor for your project. You can ask other people about whom they hired for their project in past. You can also check with the professional organizations or you can consult online referrals to know about the good contractors.

It is a Good Idea to go to See Your Family Dentist Twice a Year.

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family dentistThough it has been said time and again, oral hygiene is incredibly important.  It is important for your oral health, but it is also an important part of maintaining your overall health.  Good oral hygiene habits are linked to lower rates of diabetes and heart disease.  Obviously, good oral hygiene is also linked to lower rates of oral conditions, such as periodontal disease and cavities.  Of course, one of the biggest ways to maintain good oral hygiene is to keep up with your regular dentist appointments.  It is a good idea to go to see your family dentist twice a year.  You should space these two appointments apart, so you have one about every six months or so.  These regular appointments are important because they allow your dentist to keep track of any changes in your oral health.  If your gums seem particularly dark or puffy, your dentist will probably warn you that you have the initial stages of periodontal disease, which is an infection of the gum tissue.  This does not necessarily mean that you have the condition, but it does usually mean that you are creating the right conditions for it.  If you do not change your oral hygiene habits, you could develop periodontal disease, though.  Periodontal disease can potentially be a lot worse than cavities are because it affects your entire mouth.  If allowed to progress, periodontal disease can result in major tooth loss.  If your gums bleed every time you brush or floss, you should go see a dental care dentist as soon as possible.  Hopefully, he or she will be able to help you develop better oral hygiene habits, so you will not lose your teeth.  Cavities are troublesome, as well, though they are often easier to deal with.  Cavities are rotten portions of your teeth that have been affected by too much plaque.  They are fairly simple to treat, though, as your dentist simply drills out the rotten portions and fills them with a plaster-like substance.  Of course, oral hygiene is not the only concern of your dentist.  Your dentist is also supposed to keep track of the placement of your jaw and teeth.  If you have any alignment issues, your dentist can recommend various treatments.  In many cases, tooth alignment issues do not pose any health problems, but they can be cosmetically displeasing for some people.  If you have a minor tooth alignment issue that is not medically problematic, you have a few choices.  Braces are the most common treatment for a wide array of different alignment problem.  There are some other options, though.  One of the most well-known alternatives to braces is known as Invisalign, which is the name of the company and the device.  The device itself is inserted into the mouth, much like braces are.  The difference is Invisalign is clear and removable.  This makes it way less noticeable and far less of an inconvenience.  If you have the choice between the two, you should pick Invisalign, but some conditions do require braces.

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Preparing for floods and water damage in Boston

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When many of us think about huge flooding that engulfs huge cities and causes an incredible amount of damage we usually think about the big tropical storms that wipe out everything in sight. There are however a lot of causes for flooding and other kinds of water damage that can even happen right here in Boston. water damageOne of the big causes of floods is the annual spring thaw. It sounds crazy in a way because one wouldn’t expect that much water to come out of a bit of thawing but during the spring if everything melts quickly without a chance to be absorbed by the land, the water can sit on top of the soil and eventually find its way into homes causing lots of damage. If the ground itself is still frozen and the top layers only start to melt then you can really find yourself with some problems. Each cubic foot of compacted snow can melt to gallons of water and overflow rivers, lakes and streams. The Boston area is also in a region that is susceptible to heavy rains making the problem of rising lakes, river and streams even more dangerous. Even a few inches of flooding of a natural water source can cause a lot of water damage to homes in Boston. If the water is already higher than normal because of the frost melting, they can start to overflow much quicker than one might expect. It does not take very much at all.

Other factors that can cause some flooding or water damage in Boston are things such as levees and dams. Both levees and dams are built to protect homes from flooding conditions but they are not fail-proof. If they weaken or overfill with rising waters, they can have catastrophic results as we recently saw in New Orleans. There is no possibility of a small problem when it comes to levees and dams.

Many home insurance policies will try and not covered damage done by floods so if you think that you are in a high risk area, make sure to talk with your insurance company and make sure that they cover every aspect of possible flood damage. If you are not sure if you live in a flood area or not, you can look on the FEMA website for a map of your particular state, county, city or even neighborhood to see what kinds of risk you are at. Proper flood insurance will probably cost you a little bit more but it will be good to have since a flood can quickly destroy everything in your home as well as the home itself. While floods are unlikely, they can cause an unimaginable amount of problems if you are to be unlucky enough to be subjugated to one. Many insurance companies will try and get out of paying up in cases of flooding, both the kind caused by natural disasters as well as more innocent things like a pipe busting in your home.

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The custom cabinets really make the room

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the kitchen showcase

These custom cabinets are called a sandblasted white Oak. This picture may not show the distressed detail well but up close it has a very comfortable warm look to it. My vision for the kitchen was something that could be a cross between country and modern. I wanted the countertop to be sleek and shiny so we went with a stone called blue marble. These two elements combine to form a very interesting visual juxtaposition. Somehow the warmth of the cherry wood flooring helps to bring out the warmer tones in the white Oak. I say white Oak but really upfront there are hints of yellow and cream color as well.

I can’t say enough great things about the kitchen showcase, the company that helped us install everything. They have such a wide selection of cabinets, hardware and styles to choose from the possibilities really are endless. They encourage you to bring in samples of any fabric, wood or other material you may be using and to let your imagination run wild.

The prices at The Kitchen Showcase are so low because they buy in bulk quantity from their distributor. Also, because they are very selective in which product lines they carry the overall number is reduced to just a few of the very best. They are the number one Crestwood cabinet dealer in the country and in the top five of kitchen craft cabinets. Those are two of my favorite cabinetmakers so I was happy to learn that I could get my preferred style and a great price. All told there are literally thousands of products and hundred of thousands of combinations if you take into consideration the stain, trim, hardware and other factors.

It’s really great that the kitchen showcase has inside sales representatives who can help you with your design choices. We all have ideas of what we want our room or home to look like but in my opinion it is a good idea to have a second set of eyes to bounce ideas off of. The granite slabs they use for countertops have many different colors and patterns in them so depending on which tones you want to highlight you can use a variety of different woods for your cabinetry and from there you can use a variety of different stains.

So if you are looking for a kitchen cabinet company that can do amazing cabinet installations and so much more, you should call them and set up an appointment. I found the whole process to be much easier than I expected because they’re very good with their communication. Anytime there was any delay or setback in the production of my materials they would contact me immediately so I could’ve planned accordingly. Overall it was the granite that took the longest to install because they need to set the cabinets first in order to know where the slab will be resting. I can’t imagine a better experience working with a kitchen cabinet installer and I recommend you call them for your project.