If you are like millions of others living and working throughout the world, you are probably concerned with how to make the most of your days on this earth. We have done an excellent job of improving our odds for a longer life, but keeping up with the changing trends in health news can be a daunting task. How do you find out about the latest reputable research and advice that could set you well on your way to 100? Many choose a health and fitness blog, because blogs are usually updated daily with useful content that one can dissect and incorporate in their day-to-day journey towards a healthier existence.But you must be careful if you are going to follow the latest developments in health news through a health and fitness blog. There are many reasons to do it, and there are many reasons not to. It all depends on how analytical you are, and on each of the following pros and cons:Pro – keeping your body apprised of new research and developments in the health news community: Face it. Advice and recommendations are constantly changing to conform to advanced research. While it may seem fishy how often the health news changes, keep in mind we are living longer today for a reason. In many cases, the things we used to think nothing of are now highly important. No one ever talked about the dangers of smoking when cigarettes first came along. Years down the road, it has been recognized as the true killer that it is. It’s important for you to stay vigilant and do your best to learn of the changing trends.Con – keeping up with how quickly health news changes: While staying on top of things is often good, it can also be cause for concern. It can frustrate you to the point that you give up entirely, or it can lead you down certain paths before medical research has had the opportunity to verify validity. You know counting calories works. You know where to find good diets. Stay conservative until you have reason to believe that a piece of research is genuine and authenticated.Pro – trusting the credentials of health and fitness blog experts: There are a lot of great health and fitness blog writers out there who will provide you with invaluable information for free. You should listen to them.Con – trusting the credentials of health and fitness blog experts: There are a lot of horrible health and fitness blog writers out there who will lead you astray and give you the kind of poor information that might negatively influence your health. You should not listen to them. But you should always research the person(s) providing you with health news and advice.Eventually, you must take the health news available to you through a reputable health and fitness blog and figure out how to use it in your life. And you mustn’t wait because each day you are not leading healthy is a day you could lose later down the road. Listen well and make good decisions. Your body will respond accordingly.
Ireland’s economy depends largely on property which is why we desperately need property experts to help get us out of the recession. So why isn’t the Government using them?The wealth of the Irish nation was/is based on property values and the entire banking system was/is a leveraged play on property values: when property fell by a half the banks collapsed because they were more than 10 times leveraged.The current recession, then, has impacted Ireland dramatically because of the significant drop in property values. The recent €25 billion banking bailout and the €45 billion bailout in 2009/2010 were primarily necessitated by falls in property value.The risk now is that values will fall further, requiring more billions. Is anything being done to stop values falling? Can anything be done?Sometimes, when you are very close to the problem, you cannot craft a solution because you are overwhelmed by the problem and so are not thinking about the way to solve it.Do our policy makers really know anything about property values and their drivers? Is this the economic equivalent of the plague, with no one looking at fleas on the rats, or the potato famine, with no one looking for the bluestone spray?Has this Government access to an appropriate skill base that can halt and reverse the downward trend?The answer is a resounding “No.” It is relying on general economists and not urban economists or property experts, who frequent the property industry, and academia.Apart from a limited number of taxation-focused valuation specialists in the Valuations Office and OPW (and some fully occupied investment managers in Nama), the Government has no high-level property skills professionals at its disposal – none in the Department of Finance; none in the Central Bank; and none in the Department of Environment.Imagine running an airline without skilled pilots, engine technicians or navigators. Running an economy, now firmly proven to be grounded on property values, without these skills is surely unwise.Policy decision after policy decision is being made with little understanding of its effect on the intricate drivers of the Irish property industry and resultant effect on property values.The few economists that there are in Government are not qualified specialists in urban economists who are familiar with the detail of the property industry. While they may comment on high-level issues within the economy, they know little about the detailed workings of the property industry or the players or drivers of the property investment industry.The past Government incorrectly thought this “knowledge” came from their friends in the Galway tent – few of whom were Masters or PhD level urban economists.A bricklayer or carpenter turned developer might be a shrewd businessman – and he might be lucky – but he probably has no qualified understanding of property economics.In an economy that is “flying” normally, perhaps this can be tolerated, but when the going gets as tough – as it now has in Ireland – you need the equivalent of pilots, engine technicians and navigators to help prevent a crash landing.We have already had two such property-based “crash landings” in Ireland and still no one is looking at the fundamentals of why property values have collapsed and what can be done to halt or reverse the slide.Instead of seeking ways in which to understand the property industry and its macro and micro drivers, we get policy decision after policy decision that makes the situation even worse.Here are four examples:
• The 80 percent land value windfall tax destroyed the value of much development land and, by reducing the buy-in value to Nama, raised the cost of the banking bailout:• The Core Strategy policy of the 2010 Planning Act, by reducing the amount of zoned land, will add to the downward valuation of 50,000 hectares of former development land and will further undermine the banks and Nama’s asset base.• The upward/downward rent review policy proposals of the current government will knock about 20 per cent off the value of most property portfolios, further exasperating the banking problems. This has not been factored into the recent banking stress-test exercise.• The proposal to introduce rates on residential properties will further impact on house values.These may all be good policies in a normal economic environment but in what is the equivalent of a raging battlefield, they are like the troops smelling the roses or making daisy chains with the shells flying overhead.Is it any wonder that the international investment community won’t touch our Irish bonds or lend us money when thy can clearly see this madness.They understand urban economics even if we do not. When in a hole one should stop digging,Other industries have ministerial advisory groups so why not in the area of property? In overseas economies such as the UK and the US there are well-honed property advisory procedures in place.In the UK, the Property Industry Alliance submits regular updates to Government on issues affecting commercial property. Its most recent publication, of January 28th, gives a most detailed update on property debt risk relating to future trends in property values.In the US, the Urban Land Institute is probably the best property related think-tank in the world and gives direct advice to both the White House and the leaders of America’s property and financial services industries.The Government urgently needs to set up a high-level property advisory group, from national and international sources, from academia and the property industry.It needs to ask it to come up with strategies to halt and reverse the downward trend in property values and be given the mandate to look at the big picture as well as the fine tuning.It should be required to issue a preliminary report within three months of establishment.Every householder, investor, banker, and borrower would like to see some serious skills being applied to halting the downslide in values.The way to begin this is to assemble the brainpower that understands the industry and ask them to develop appropriate policies.Unfortunately, the old belief still prevails in Merrion Street and Dame Street – that simply because you own a house and built a kitchen extension, you understand the complexities of urban economics and property economics.What we are doing at present is equivalent to the 17th century practice of drawing blood from a sick patient.The skills are there – just mobilise the experts now and listen to their advice, please – for all our sakes.
An increasing number of people are appreciating the immense opportunities of earning money online. In fact, a significant number of people have had great success in earning money online and do not regret the decision they made. In this light, it is worth exploring such opportunities in order to make an informed decision. Most importantly, learning how to effectively penetrate this niche is a matter of paramount importance.How to Make Money OnlineIdentify Your NicheTo start with, it is important that you identify an online money making opportunity. In this regard, there are many opportunities that offer an online money making platform. To start with, blogging is one of the most reliable ways of earning an income. It should be noted that the content that you create is a great determinant to the success of your blog or lack of it thereof.Second, writing offers an ideal way of making money. There are many people who are running companies and they do not have time to write. Similarly, there are various companies which offer opportunities for writing articles.Lastly, Amazon Associates is a good platform to earn online money. This is how it works: each time a client buys an Amazon product through your site, you get a commission. You get paid through a check or a direct deposit to your bank account.Other opportunities where one can make money online includes the following:- Getting paid to test apps
- Working as a social media administrator
- Paid surveys
- Teaching English online
- Testing websites
- Tutoring
- Google AdSenseDraw an Estimate BudgetQuite a number of online money making opportunities require zero capital. However, you may still need some money. For example, even if you are working from home, it is important that you set up a home office.Have a Disciplined in ScheduleEarning money online is not a gateway to resting all the time. On the contrary, it requires that you exercise a lot of discipline in your schedule. It is not uncommon to find that personal chores overlap with office hours. If you have a family and children, let the children know that you need to concentrate during work. Similarly, do not allow friends to pop in to your house as they wish.ChallengesOne of the greatest challenges facing online opportunities is the possibility of being scammed. In order to avoid this, carry out a thorough research of the company in question and peruse through its reviews.Second, working online could translate to more working hours. The best response to this is to set aside time that you do not work- that is time for relaxation and recreation.
Whether you’re in the market for a major interior overhaul or you’re simply looking to give your home a quick and easy update, chances are you’ve spent some time online hunting for ideas and inspiration. That said, it can be pretty deflating to stumble upon a look you love only to discover the price to achieve it is well above your budget.
Fortunately, there are some killer home decorating blogs that show you how to refresh, revive, and fall in love with your home anew without breaking the bank. For a home that looks far more expensive than it costs to create, check out the following blogs for all of the interior inspiration and DIY tutorials you’ll ever need.
Welcome back to the week 5 update for the One Room Challenge. Check out the blog posts and updates for week 1, week 2, week 3, and week 4 if you missed them. It’s crunch time now and I’ll be honest… I don’t know that this project will be completely wrapped up for the reveal date. The great thing is the reveal and hitting a deadline is not the only goal of reason for this challenge. Ultimately having a fully functional and hopefully beautiful bathroom is where we want to end up even it things are a bit delayed.
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.
When we left off last time the countertops had been templated, the trim was freshly painted and the hardware had been ordered. The hardware took about 1 week to arrive. We chose the Menlo Park 4″ pull from Schlub in chrome because I think the pull has the perfect mix of square and some rounded elements that make it a great transitional hardware option. We went with all pulls for the drawers and doors since the knob option in that line weren’t our favorite.
Guest Bathroom Reno: Quartz Countertops and Grout – One Room Challenge Week 5
The quartz countertops are now installed and things can be put back together. Rectangle, undercount sinks were also purchased through the fabricator. The Marble look quartz from Pental and it is gorgeous with the warm gray veins running throughout. For the edge went for a flat polish eased edge for a clean, simple look.
Guest Bathroom Reno: Quartz Countertops and Grout – One Room Challenge Week 5
Two days after the quartz countertops were installed the tile installer came back to finish up tiling the niches, installing the tile base and grout everything.
Guest Bathroom Reno: Quartz Countertops and Grout – One Room Challenge Week 5
The electoral is being relocated for the new lights. There are some drywall and painting touch ups to do and plumbing fixtures to be hooked up. Plus adding all the finishing touches ???? All those little things like towel hooks, curtain rod, and accessories will bring this whole thing together.
It’s been too long since I’ve updated and even longer since this work has been started. This is me sharing remodel updates, mostly for myself (but also for my nagging family members). I’m sharing photos of the progress that has been made while also document the craziness that has gone on. This is just the beginning of the remodel.
Prior to moving in I had 3-4 weeks where my apartment lease overlapped with the possession of my townhome. This allowed me, with the amazing help of my family, to paint, tear-out carpet and somewhat put back together the upstairs portion of my place so that I could have a clean room to put a bed. At least one that wasn’t completely torn apart. One area that felt more livable that the rest. If you haven’t seen or don’t remember these are the before photos from when I took possession. To list it out here are the main things that I was tacking during those week prior to me moving in.
Phase 1 Remodel Projects
ripping out baseboard, carpet and tack strips upstairs and preparing for new hard surface flooring. (this flooring will go throughout minus the stairs and bathrooms/laundry)
installing flooring upstairs (one of my installers did this)
mostly gutting the master bathroom
installing a new tub and rough in plumbing for the master and powder bath
ordering and installing a rift white oak vanity for the master
Painting (and priming where needed) the ceilings and walls of the bedrooms. Caulking and painting the crown molding in the master
replacing and upgrading the baseboard heater in the master and patch the drywall
painting the hallway and down through the stairwell
adding skirt board to the stairs
installing new carpet and pad on the stairs (my carpet installer from work did this)
removing upper cabinets on the fridge side in the kitchen
partially demoing the wall diving the kitchen (prepare to move switches, outlets, heater and thermostat)
removing drywall on wall next to bar in dining area
painting the downstairs powder bath and removing vanity to prepare for a new floating vanity
Those were the main projects that took place and then I moved in the day after Thanksgiving. Getting rid of the original, nasty cat carpet and new flooring made a huge difference to the upstairs. Also neutralizing and lightening the paint made things feel so much more fresh. I still have no baseboards but I’ll get on that one day! For now here are some photos that I snapped along the way.
It’s been a while since been posting on here but I have some new updates and projects that I have been working on. Last summer into fall I was house hunting while knowing the lease on my apartment would be expiring end of the 2019. It felt a little crazy but was a fun process for me. After a bunch of searching I found and closed on a new home!
I was lucky enough to have a few weeks of overlap with my apartment (I ended up moving out 1 month early) so I was able to get started on projects and updates prior to moving in. I’ll share more about those in the coming weeks (there are still so many unfinished things!) but for now I think it’s best to start with some before photos. Also, follow along on Instagram where I post current project updates more often. The pictures show it in the state I bought it in. It’s a great first place to me and was functional as-is but as you might expect I’m here to make things my own by doing updates that I will enjoy while living here and that will also add value and functionality to the space down the line when I sell… or maybe even keep it as a rental. My dog, Nova, has been enjoying the space as well ???? There are a couple of things to miss about my Bothell apartment but I am very ready to have my own place and space.
In 2017 the guest bathroom was remodeled. You can see more photos and read about that here. Almost everything came out and all new things went back in. From emails and comments people have been asking for sources so I have rounded up what I could in this post to share paint colors, products and links that I could find for the bathroom.
Bathroom Sources and Details:
Wall color: BM Balboa Mist
Trim and door color: BM Chantilly Lace
Floor Tile: Pental Mark Chrome 12×24 matte
Shower tile: Jeffrey Court Weather Gray 4×12 gloss subway
Niche tile: Daltile clio mosaic
Bathtub: Maax Rubix tub
Cabinet: Spencer Cabinets – painted BM Cape May Cobblestone
Countertop: Pental Quartz Misterio polished 3cm
Cabinet hardware: Schaub Menlo Park Pull in chrome
Faucets: Hansgrohe Metris single handle in chrome
Shower trims: Kohler slide bar kit, wall mount supply and Hansgrohe tub spout in chrome
Mirrors: Homegoods
Towel Hooks: Delta Tolva robe hook in chrome