10.31.2017

The Tech Behind The Bathroom


When most people take a shower or have a bath, they don’t usually consider the tech behind the actions their performing. Throughout this process, you are using tools which wouldn’t be possible without the magic of electricity. But, even when things are this advanced, there are stills ways to take it further. To help you out with this, enabling you to turn tech to your advantage in the bathroom, this post will be going through some of the greatest tools available to do it.

  • Shower Power

The very first thing for you to consider in your bathroom is the shower. This is the most important part of your cleaning routine, and will often be something you use for very long periods. So, it makes sense that you use the right one. Modern smart showers can do a lot more than the traditional ones you’ll find in most homes. From remembering your perfect temperature to playing music and warning you when it’s time to get out, showers have never been so helpful.

  • Burn Baby, Burn

Once you step out of the shower, there’s nothing worse than being greeted by a cold floor. In the past, mats would be used to solve this issue, but this can be very unhygienic. Instead, heated floors can change the way the room feels when you finish your routine, taking away the painful chill the floor can present.

Along with keeping yourself warm, it’s also a good idea to look for a way to dry your towels effectively. Not a lot of people consider this part of bathroom routine. But, if you leave a towel wet, it could get a little bit smelly and need to be cleaned prematurely. You can click here to take a look at the best sorts of option to solve this issue for you. A simple heated towel rail could be all you need to keep things dry.

  • A Glimpse Of The Future

When you look around at the technology humans have been able to create, some of the options out there might not be so obvious. A smart mirror, for example, will largely be ignored by people who don’t care about technology. Of course, though, this sort of device can be extremely helpful. Giving you style tips, information about the weather, and even messages from your phone, this sort of product is a true glimpse into the future of bathrooms.

  • Some Privacy

Finally, it’s time to think about privacy in your bathroom. In a lot of homes, open plan spaces are very popular, making small rooms look a lot bigger. To achieve this sort of style in your bathroom, glass will usually be used, sacrificing privacy. Most people don’t realize that they can have the best of both worlds. Privacy glass isn’t much more expensive than the normal stuff but enables you to turn your barrier on and off.

Hopefully, this post will give you a good idea of what can be done when you’re looking for ways to add tech to your bathroom. Not a lot of people know about their options in this department. But, with the right effort, you could make your morning routine a lot easier.

The Art Of Making Clients Feel Welcome

Why is it that some companies make you feel awkward and unsettled when you arrive for a meeting? Yet other businesses can be a joy to visit. There are a number of reasons why you might feel welcomed in one place and uncomfortable in others. The building, the people, and even the purpose of the visit can contribute. Of course, there is an art to welcoming business clients to your workplace. Try some of these tips and tricks to win any client over before you’ve even pitched your idea:

Parking
When you know you have a client coming over, make sure that there is adequate parking available near to the door. Offer a really detailed map including pictures to show where the entrance to your car park is. Make sure the signs directing clients to visitor parking are clear. You might also want to check it is easy to spot the entry door from that bay too. If you’re in the city, try to make sure your valet service is on form and welcoming when they meet your client.

Reception
Your receptionist should be of the highest caliber. A warm smile and offers of drinks and other comforts are just the start. Comfortable seating and a prompt response are essential too. Make sure the lobby area is light and warm. You might have an HVAC scent diffuser offering a comforting aroma to help clients relax too. If you’re not already waiting to greet your guest in reception make sure you arrive quickly and certainly never late!


Walking and Talking
As you are walking your client back to your office, consider the tone of the conversation. Are you going to talk about the weather and the traffic? Maybe your chat will be less formal and a little more personal? Should you talk about yourself or ask your client lots of questions? The answer to these depends a great deal on the established relationship that already exists. Think carefully about why your client is there and start to address those needs as you walk. Maybe you will offer a ‘teaser trailer’ of your presentation?


The Office Space
Clients will want to do business with companies that present themselves well but are also well-presented themselves. Before your clients arrive, make sure that the office is neat and tidy, with things put away where they should be. If it's been a while since the space has been cleaned, it might be worth hiring professional office cleaners, that specialize in creating a clean workspace. You can learn about our office carpet cleaning solutions and suggestions of companies that can provide high-quality services in the office work industry. After all, a well maintained office is not only beneficial as a first impression for any clients passing through, but also the employees who work there every day.

The Pitch
Your client has arrived to discuss their latest project and wants to know how you’re going to deliver. Make sure you’re in an office with plenty of light and space so that you can move around. If you’re remodeling soon it might even be worth considering how clients like you to pitch ideas. Do they prefer to sit and watch, or do they like the idea of collaborating to develop suggestions? Make sure the room can help you deliver the service they want to receive.

The Finer Details

Finding plenty in common is a really good way to build rapport. Do your homework, and find members of the team that also share interests. Remember details from previous conversations and try to weave them in naturally. Make sure you maintain good eye contact. Don’t cross or fold your arms. You should try to be open at all times. How do you welcome your clients into your business?

6 ways to declutter a messy kitchen

A messy kitchen is difficult to work in. You won’t have much counter space, you’ll find it difficult to locate all of your utensils and appliances, and it can easily spiral out of control. Let’s face it, cleaning up a kitchen is something no one wants to get involved with, but it’s important to do so for a number of reasons. It drastically reduces the possibility of attracting rodents, and fewer pests will come along to nibble all of the crumbs you’ve left.

So to help you out, we’ve put together a list of 6 ways to declutter a messy kitchen.

A clean and minimalist kitchen is the goal to aspire for. (Source)

Throw out what you don’t need

First, chuck out anything you don’t need or don’t use anymore. Go through all of your cupboards, give them a nice clean and take out any old cans of food that you no longer plan to eat. You’d be surprised at the many different “treasures” you can find lurking in your cupboards.

Ask yourself if you really need duplicates

Do you have several pots of the same size? Get rid of the older ones and keep the new one. Do you have more than a single microwave? What for? Get rid of one! If you have duplicates of any utensils or appliances, then make sure you get rid of them because you likely won’t need them at all.

Learn to use fewer tools and appreciate simpler methods

A knife is really all you need to cut things. Sure, peelers are fantastic too, but you could probably do most of your kitchen preparation work with fewer tools. Knives can slice and dice just about anything as long as they’re sharp enough. In short, avoid weird gadgets or contraptions and just focus on simple and effective tools.

Kitchens don’t need to be filled with appliances. (Source)

Use what you can see, not what’s hidden

If it’s not on your kitchen counter, you probably don’t use it very often. This is why many people prefer to use a countertop oven as opposed to a traditional oven. It’s more convenient to access, takes up less space and offers a number of useful features to improve your productivity in the kitchen.

Your kitchen is not a library

You no longer need all of those cookbooks. Stop making your kitchen look like a library by replacing all of those physical books with a single tablet and many eBooks.

Do you really use all those spices and condiments?

We’re all guilty of collecting spices, condiments and seasonings. They can give us plenty of unique flavours that are just absolutely stunning to mix in our foods, but with the number of spices out there, it’s virtually impossible to have a shelf large enough to use them all.

These tips will help you go far when it comes to decluttering your messy kitchen. To summarise, get rid of anything you don’t actively need, use or see in the kitchen and replace it with multi-purpose tools that are sharp and well-maintained.

10.30.2017

Unique gifts for children


On the run-up to Christmas (yes it’s nearly here!) our minds turn to our loved ones, friends and family who have been with us through thick and thin, and the fact that we really want to treat them. You probably have Christmas traditions and a familiar routine you follow each year, but the one thing that always changes are the gifts. Gifts aren’t a way to show how much money you have; they are a conduit for showing your gratitude and love for someone. But it can be hard to think of new and exciting gift ideas each year - particularly for kids. They will receive so many toys that they won’t play with past Christmas day, so you want to get them something fun and unique that you know they’ll love.


Experience Days

An experience day for a child can be anything from a promise to visit the zoo, to a trip to Disney. It doesn’t have to cost much at all, and you can take them to a place that they absolutely love. It’s a great gift as you get to spend more time with them, and they with you.


Personalised Books

Reading a book at bedtime is an age-old tradition - but how exciting would going to bed be if you know that you are in the story? Personalised books can cover all younger ages and a wide range of themes, so you’ll be able to find one to fit your child perfectly.


Four Wheelers

If you want to go a little bigger, faster, and gadget orientated - you can look into getting an ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle.) These four wheeler bikes let your child have immense fun zooming through the garden - when, in reality, they aren’t going that fast. As a parent, it can be hard to know which gift is the safest option, while still being something they will love. You can see a review on best youth four wheelers here, to help you make that decision.


Beds

A bed might seem a little boring to you, but to a child, it’s a pirate ship, a tower of a castle, a mountain, or a trampoline. And with a fun bed frame, you can feed their imagination even more. Look at this Teepee cabin bed for inspiration.


Create A Confetti Gun

Sounds messy, doesn’t it? That’s exactly why they’ll love it! It’s a great gift where they have to follow instructions, create and use the help of a partner to create it. You might be more tempted to buy it for a niece or nephew, but it can be fun for everyone.


Name A Star

This gift is out of this world. You can actually buy the naming rights of a star for your child. And they’ll have that for the rest of their lives, and the star will bear that name for the rest of its life. You can even get the location of the star so that you can find it at night. This is a great gift for young teens who understand the enormity of the idea of owning a star.



4 Things Only Moms And Dads Know About Parenthood


Welcoming a baby into the world is a joyous occasion because you never love anything like you do a child. It’s also an exhausting time as there are books to read and houses to prepare. But, no matter how many “first-time baby books” you read, it will adequately prepare you for what’s next. Why? It’s because there are some things which don’t come to light until the baby is in your arms.

Here are fours things only parents understand about parenthood.

The Books Are Nonsense!

Okay, so that’s a little bit harsh because they do have useful tips. However, the thing they fail to divulge is that parenting is a unique experience. Every child is different, which means there isn’t a framework for rearing a baby. Unfortunately, new moms and dads to be put a lot of faith in the books because they claim to have the answers. When the baby is born, none of the info you read in the weeks leading up to the birth came in handy. Not only is it a waste of time, but it’s massively depressing because it feels like no one can help. Even the professionals don’t have a clue!

Postpartum Depression Is Real

With all mental illnesses, it’s easy to think it will never happen to me. After all, society still looks down on ailments such as depression as a weakness. Well, once a woman gives birth, she doesn’t think it any longer. It is common for new mothers not to fall in love with their bundle of joy straight away. What with the trauma of giving birth, it is somewhat normal nowadays. The key is to understand the symptoms and reach out for help. No one is a monster because they struggle with parenthood. Parents just need help and a bit of time to adapt.

Clothes Are Expensive

Sure everyone knows that – all you have to do is look at a price tag. The thing is a non-parent can’t account for two things. Firstly, children go through a wardrobe like a fashion model on a catwalk. Seriously, isn’t it quite impressive how they manage to dirty outfits and fill them with holes? Of course, once they lose their shine, a replacement is necessary. Secondly, the desire to provide is strong. Many parents have checked out Nickis baby Dior section even though the baby doesn’t care. Still, the idea of having a beautiful, stylish fashionista is too tempting!

Kids Are Rough

Like, an MMA world title contest is rough. As soon as they can crawl, walk and climb, they never stop. Inevitably, they want their parents to be nearby for their daily dose of torture. From punches to scratches and biting, they have an array of moves which would impress The Rock. Sometimes they do it unintentionally and others on purpose. Either way, it hurts all the same! Every parent has scars, both mental and physical, from a “playful” encounter with their own flesh and blood.

What’s worse is these are just the tip of the iceberg. There’s plenty more where that came from, people.

Relaxify Your Bedroom

Home improvements often start with the practical rooms like the kitchen and the bathroom. These are the two rooms that are used the most throughout the day, so they get the first priority when it comes to home décor. However, there is one place in your home that you should always work on making as relaxing as possible, and that is your bedroom.
At the end of a long day at work, the last thing you want to do is walk into a bedroom that is sparse, threadbare and cold. It doesn’t invite you in and it certainly doesn’t give you the sensation that you could sink into bed and sleep peacefully. A bedroom should be a place of calm and zen and a big part of that will be your colour palette alongside the furnishings that you choose. So, what you have to do is get yourself online and start making a list of all the things you could do with your bedroom that invokes that sensation of peace and calm. Websites like this can give you some fantastic ideas, but we’ve got some ideas you’ll just love.
Bed. There’s no bedroom without a bed and you need a top-quality Sioux Falls mattress to go on top of it for a good night’s sleep. Your mattress choice is going to be so personal; some people love a fluffy and soft mattress that they could just sink into. Others prefer a firm mattress for maximum support. Top this with some delicious Egyptian cotton sheets and the correct tog duvet for the season and you have a bed to sink into. Make sure your pillows are firm and supportive, with a few soft ones thrown in for good measure!
Colour. A bedroom should be mellow and pretty. Harsh and bright colours have no real place in a bedroom as they don’t promote a good sleeping environment. Instead, they can wake you further and make you feel far too alert. Stick to pastels and soft colours, like lavender and peach.
Lighting. Bedrooms are a place of peace and calm, so it makes sense to have dim, soft lighting. Invest in blackout blinds for the windows, and keep the lighting to a minimum – lamps instead of using the main light for example.
Furniture. This one is all about your personal taste, but always try to go for the less is more approach. It’s hard to relax in a bedroom cluttered with clothes and pieces of furniture. If you can, invest in built-in wardrobes that are hidden and out of the way. What the eyes can’t see the heart can’t grieve for.
Accessories. Your bed should have a warm, fluffy throw and your floors should have rugs adorning the wood. You want your bedroom to be plied with warmth and light and these furnishings are going to go a long way to making you feel ready for bed!

Your bedroom is somewhere you spend a lot of time. Sleep is only going to happen when you are fully relaxed and ready!

Dr Google will see you now. Are you overly reliant on the intern

If you’re feeling unwell, what do you do? Do you suffer in silence and tough it out in the hope that your symptoms will subside? Do you call your doctor and make an appointment? Or do you grab your phone and start frantically searching for your symptoms online? If you tend to resort to seeing Dr Google, you’re certainly not alone. More than 40 percent of us use search engines to try and find out more about health problems. Sometimes, this is a useful exercise, but it’s wise to proceed with caution.



When not to rely on the Internet
The trouble with the Internet is that it offers a one-size-fits-all approach to health. It’s not possible for a doctor to look into your eyes, listen to your chest, and feel your abdomen when you type in a few signs and symptoms. What Google and other websites give you is a list of conditions that fit in with your symptoms. If you have stomach pain, for example, the web may tell you there’s a risk of everything from food poisoning and a gastric virus to gallstones, a stomach ulcer or a form of cancer. The reality is that in the vast majority of cases, symptoms will be indicative of something innocuous, but Googling may make you fear the worst. It’s also possible that reading articles may have the opposite effect and make you assume that you’re absolutely fine when really, you would benefit from seeking professional advice. Often, the Internet can be useful, but try and avoid it when you have a sudden onset of symptoms, or your symptoms have become more severe. Spending all your time online could cause you to panic, and the best thing to do in this scenario is see a trained, qualified doctor as soon as possible.

Alternatives to Dr Google
One of the main problems doctors have with the surge in popularity of online symptom checking is the fact that patients are using it as an alternative to seeing a professional. There’s nothing wrong with doing some research if you’re worried, but don’t let the Internet take the place of your doctor. The truth of the matter is that there is always a risk that those pages are inaccurate and the web cannot give you tailored advice or recommendations based on a physical examination or test results. If you have symptoms of an injury, for example, looking at pictures or reading articles online could cause you to underestimate the severity of the situation. A swollen, bruised knee may not look that bad to an untrained eye, but an MRI scan may reveal significant soft tissue damage. Remember that doctors have completed extensive training and they act according to what they see, what they feel and what kind of information you provide. If you’re at all uncertain or you feel unwell, it’s always best to double check with your doctor rather than relying on a machine for a diagnosis.



If you’re guilty of reaching for your phone or a laptop every time you feel unwell, or you think there may be something wrong with you, try and resist the lure of Dr Google. Researching online can be useful, but there’s no substitute for a trained, experienced professional. 

Raising a teenager

Raising teenagers might be more difficult than raising toddlers. Through the hormones, test scores, orthodontia, learner permits, mood swings, Instagram likes, and snap chat selfies, it is tough for a mom to maintain her sanity.
Baby books taught you about potty training and pre-school, but what could prepare you for the rollercoaster that is first dances and drivers ed?

Being a mom is not easy from that first cry up til their wedding day and beyond, your heart hurts when they hurt, you cry when they cry, you smile when they smile and you cheer them on as their biggest fan.
Being a mom is not about giving them everything they want… if you do that you will have spoiled ungrateful kids. It being there for them, loving them, caring for them, giving them what they need, it does not mean giving them the best iPhone at 12 and a car at 16, no it means showing them how to do things like how to do laundry, how to wash dishes, how to cook and clean, the basic things of life are things they will remember more than "Oh my mom got me an iPhone for my 12th birthday", they will look back and thank you for the things you taught them 
I want my daughter to become a strong confident woman, who believes she can do anything she tries to do, I want her to be confident to run for president, I want her to reach for the highest paying job within her career field, I want all these things but I want her to feel confident in herself and who she is.
I want us to have a relationship that if she is struggling a relationship, anxiety or depression that she is comfortable talking to me about it, I want her to look at me like her best friend, I want her to tell me about her first date and her first kiss ( so I can find the kid {just kidding}).  
I do love the age she is right now, she is almost 14 and she is truly a joy to be a mom to, her teachers compliment us all the time on her, this my friends is what makes the hardest days easier, knowing that because you told them No to something, does not mean you hate them even though they may think so at the moment,  one day they will look back and realize it was for their benefit. 
I love being a momma  

10.27.2017

Heart Health: How to Keep Yours Tickety-Boo

We don’t tend to think about it when we’re in our 20’s or 30’s but our heart health can make a huge difference to how we feel later on. As soon as you hit your 50’s your heart will play a major role in your aging process. If you do what you can to look after your heart health now, you may feel a lot sprightlier when you’re older. Having said that, it isn’t worth taking your heart in your own hands right now? Here’s how to keep your heart in top shape.

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Increase Your Exercise
Sadly, there aren’t many of us who are getting the daily exercise we need to keep our hearts ticking away as they should. The government only recommends at least thirty minutes of cardio per day, but anyone with a busy schedule may find that difficult to squeeze in. If you’re having difficulty, you can start off by doing some brisk walking on the spot in front of the TV. Step it up to a jog once you’ve got the hang of it and keep adding on five minutes until you’re up to 30.

Stay Hydrated
There are so many benefits to staying hydrated throughout the day. Firstly, it prevents dehydration and headaches from occurring, especially on warm days. However, we aren’t often made aware of the benefits it can have on our hearts. We need to stay hydrated to encourage good circulation around the body. Since the heart is responsible for pumping blood to all of our major organs, it’s vital that it gets what it needs to do its job properly.

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Stay Safe 
If you’ve got a pre-existing heart condition, you’ll need to look after yourself when you’re out and about. Make sure to take any medications with you and set an alarm so you don’t forget to take them on time. Visit foremostequipment.com/zoll-aed-plus and take a look at the latest equipment for emergencies with heart patients. Having something like this with you as you visit new places could give you the peace of mind you need to live life to the fullest. It’s also a good idea to have identification and details of your condition and medication and contact details for Cardiovascular Group on your person in the event of an accident or emergency.
 
Monitor Your Cholesterol
You don’t have to be a medical professional to know that cholesterol is bad for the heart. The best way of monitoring your cholesterol is to schedule yearly check-ups with your doctor and have yourself tested for high blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels. If your levels come back high, discuss a plan with your doctor on how to tackle the problem. You’ll likely have to avoid fatty foods and add more fruit and veg to your diet.

Keep Positive
If you’ve picked up a few bad habits, like smoking or a bad diet, maintaining a healthy heart may not be easy. But, if you accept help and do what you can to change your habits, your hearts future will be bright.


Ask A Gardener: Great Garden Tips

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Most of us are way too busy to spend enough time in our gardens. It would be a lot easier to hire a professional gardener to come and sort out our lawns and flower beds for us. Unfortunately, though, hiring an expert gardener can be extremely expensive!

But that doesn’t mean your garden has to be neglected and forgotten. You just need to take a leaf out of a gardener’s book and use all of these great tips to help keep your garden in great shape.

Always Protect Against The Weather

If your garden gets damaged by the weather, you will have to spend a considerable amount of time trying to get it back to how it originally was. And that might be time that you don’t necessarily have. So, to ensure that you don’t find yourself swamped by a whole load of gardening work, spend some time making sure that all your garden is protected against the weather, especially at this time of year as we head into winter. As long as your lawn, flower beds, and vegetable patch are protected against frost, then your garden should be ok!

Make Compost

Are you sick of dragging yourself to your local gardening store to stock up on compost? If so, you need to start making it yourself. It is incredibly easy to do and is a great way to dispose of all your food waste. You just need to find a large bin that you can keep outdoors. Into this, you need to empty your food waste so that it can decompose. After a few weeks, the decomposed food will be full of nutrients that your garden soil and plants need.

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Always Prune Your Trees And Bushes

If you only have time to do one job in the garden, it should be pruning all your trees and bushes. Ideally, this should be done right at the beginning of summer and winter. Check out the Chain Cutting to find out which chainsaw is the best for cutting back dead branches on your large trees. When it comes to pruning smaller trees and bushes, you should be ok using just some pruning shears. Just remember to watch your fingers!


Plant Bee-Friendly Flowers

Did you know that bees can help to look after your garden when you don’t have time? These little insects fly around pollinating plants to help ensure that your garden is always full of gorgeous plants and flowers. To make sure that your garden is always full of bees busy at work, plant some of their favorite flowers. You can find out which ones they are by checking out this list. Try not to shoo away any bees if you do notice them in your garden - they are only looking for food for themselves and won’t try to sting anyone unless they are provoked.

You don’t have to be an expert gardener to have a beautiful garden. Hopefully, these tips will help you even if you don’t have much time on your hands!

Resented renovations: options for self motivation

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There are certain renovations that homeowners have to undertake that are not undertaken willingly.

These aren’t the renovations that excite us; the renovations that promise a new and improved place to live. Those renovations are easy; who doesn’t love the idea of improving their home environment, making every room feel shiny and new again? No, the “resented renovations” are the essential home maintenance tasks we have to do to protect our home-- and persuading yourself to do these is far more difficult.

While it’s easy to summon your enthusiasm for improvement, maintenance renovation is work done to keep your home looking, well, exactly like it always has. Improved in terms of energy efficiency or safety, sure, those facets are important-- but they’re not exciting. So how can you persuade yourself to spend money on the resented renovations?

Option One: Bargaining

Bargaining is fairly simple; it’s a way of forcing yourself to do a home maintenance task that you’re less than enthused about, in exchange for something you are enthused about. It works like this:

You know that your roof needs to be replaced; not the most exciting of tasks, necessary but rather dull. You’re also hankering after a new color for the kitchen walls, which is far more interesting and will improve your living space.

So you strike a bargain; you’ll call in a roofer and replace the roof, then -- as a reward -- you can redecorate the kitchen as you see fit. When the job you’re less-enthused about ends, that’s the starting pistol to start work on the task you really want to do. Bargaining with yourself is surprisingly effective, so it’s definitely worth trying!

Option Two: Dire Warnings

The second option is to give yourself a stern talking to. For example:

  • “If you don’t fix that roof by the time winter arrives, you’re going to waste so much money on heating bills!”
  • “If you don’t get that boiler system serviced, there’s a potential for a carbon monoxide leak!”
  • “If you don’t clear the gutters of leaves, then there’s every chance a family of wasps might move in!”

When you understand the consequences of not undertaking resented renovations, you might be able to accept that these renovations are, indeed, necessary-- and that can give you a push in the right direction to ensure they’re completed.

Option Three: Challenge Yourself

How well can you manage a renovation? How quickly can you organize for work to be done? Are you able to manage the finances? Are you going to be able to get a good deal?

If you’re a competitive person, then you might find that challenging yourself to get resented renovations done is a surprisingly effective way of getting the work done. See if you can outdo yourself and get through a resented renovation in the best way possible-- and your prize? The satisfaction of knowing you don’t have to go through that renovation again for years!

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Persuading yourself to go through with the not-fun-but-essential renovations is one of the tougher parts of owning your own home. However, when you get the resented renovations out of the way, you can turn your attention to an area of your house you are genuinely enthused about being able to renovate-- which is reward in and of itself..
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