Welcome to Wonderful Wednesday!! We always get a head start each week and our Co-Hosts choose from the previous week’s links and we are featuring 7 blogs on week #176!! Looking for fall decorating ideas, crafts or gathering recipes for the Holidays we have features to share. And we’d love you to share your ideas and find new friends. We appreciate your visit today! Happy Fall!❢❢ We would love if you would post our Party Banner or this »Link« on your site for others to enjoy the party each week! And if you looking for something special from last week, you Can Still See See Them Here» Last Week Features❢:❢ We look forward to your recipes, reviews, DIY crafts, gardening hints, travel, beauty ideas, jewelry you make, paper crafts, your home, home ideas, and decor plus Linky Parties & Giveaways are all welcome!And Please Feel Free To Pin A Few Features From Original Source ❢ Be Notified When Our Parties Start Each Week Add Your Email Unsubscribe Anytime ❢: […]Hostess Features ♥ Karren Haller // Oh My Heartsie Girl How to Easily Furnish Your New Home Twitter | Bloglovin | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram♥ Indah Nuria Savitri // My Purple World Lovely Saturday at Gruyères, Switzerland Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram ♥ Clearissa Coward // Command Center My Seasonal Home | Fall Home Tour 2019 Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest ♥ Alice V // DIYerfy Spooktacular Giveaway! Twitter| Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest♥ Kaycee Mason How to Throw a Costume Party & a $60 Giveaway Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest …Feature Chosen by Karren // Oh My Heartsie Girl Fabbys Living // A Thanksgiving Table Spread Those little lanterns have a squirrel inside, to appreciate visit the link!
Feature Chosen by Karren // Oh My Heartsie Girl Dabbling and Decorating // Vintage Tin Centerpiece The last of the fall flowers before I bring out the pumpkins Feature Chosen by Kaycee D Mason // My Crafty Zoo Handmade Weekly // DIY Painted Fall Leaves Doormat If you love IKEA hacks as much as I do, check out Hannah’s IKEA hacks page for more tutorials! Feature Chosen by Alice V // DIYerfy Pots and Planes // 3 Days on the Island of Naxos, Greece authentic Greek island experience, a place where you wont be fighting your way through streets crowded with tourists, then this island is for you. Feature Chosen by Suzan W // Country Crafting Decor Craft Design // DIY Fall Rustic Letters Upcycling By Using Cardboard Feature Chosen by Clearisa C // Clearissa Coward’s Command Center Kippia At Home // Fall Hoop Wreath
Learn how to make an easy bow and a hoop wreath Feature Chosen by Indah // My Purple World Vanity and Me Style // Kicking off Autumn Syle with Woolovers Laurie always is stepping out in style and I love her sweater.
Once you have completed the purchase of your home, it is normal to want to change the furniture according to evolving tastes or to match the dynamic of the new space. Even if you’re renting a place, you want to make it feel like a home, says Bighorn Rentals team. Here are some tips for quickly decorating your new house.
Make a Decorating Budget
A good way to make sure you stay within your price range for furnishing is to create a decorating budget. The easiest way to do this is to divide the furniture you want into rooms and create an individual cost breakdown for each area. Additionally, noting items that need to be prioritized, such as a dining table and a couch, versus optional purchases like artwork or end tables, can help you determine the amount you would like to spend on essentials, as well as the amount you should have leftover for miscellaneous items. This budget is a great base number to work with if you want to move costs around further into the project. This post may contain automatically and manually added affiliate links, which means I might receive a small commission if you make a purchase using a link at no extra cost to you.
Decide on a Theme
Although it can be entertaining and inventive to mix and match furniture pieces to your liking, it is always a good idea to find a common theme for your furnishings. For example, if you are a rustic person, you may lean towards log cabin decor and furniture. Having pieces that are coordinated together can help create a sense of peace and harmony in your home. You may also want to consider picking a theme that will stand the test of time so that you will not have to completely overhaul your decorating scheme when home trends inevitably shift in the coming years.
Incorporate Feng Shui
As it is becoming increasingly popular, the Chinese art of spatial organization, or feng shui, has been shown to have real benefits in terms of arranging the furniture in your home. Arrange your new items in a way to keep your house systematically less cluttered, which will help lower stress levels and give you relief and comfort when you arrive home. One of the most important elements of feng shui is to incorporate furniture around the energy flow of the space. It is also a good idea to create areas that serve multiple functions and purposes as well.
Vacations are the time to unwind after months of slogging and following a daily routine. After all, everyone deserves a break and there is no better way to get one than going on a holiday. But this is just one side of the picture because vacations can be stressful as well. Right from planning a holiday to making travel and accommodation bookings, packing, long flights and more, every aspect involves stress. Financials and logistics can be equally challenging. What’s more, you may feel even more hassled if planning a trip with children. So what can you do to minimize the hassles? Is there a formula to make vacations totally stress-free? Yes, there are some easy tips that work and they are listed as follows:
Have a plan in place
Nothing works unless you have a proper plan in place and this rule applies to holidays as well. Start planning your vacation by deciding the destination and timeline, while considering the budget as well. Explore your options and shortlist the ones that fit into your budget. While you plan the trip, consider the fact whether you are going to travel solo, with friends or with family. Having everything drawn on paper in detail will definitely give you a good start and make bookings and arrangements easier.
Make arrangements in advance
The biggest stress that you may come across while planning a holiday relates to arrangements. Whether it is your flight tickets or accommodation reservations, book everything in advance. At the same time, do extensive research to find the best deals. Booking early not only makes you stress-free but also serves as the best way to economize travel. However, check the cancelation policy before making advance reservations because you may have to cancel at the last moment.
Pack smartly
A major hassle that people face while planning for vacations is about packing stuff. They may feel like carrying a lot but end up only tugging and towing heavy suitcases, with clothes they wouldn’t wear during the holiday. Reducing your packing stress is as easy as having a checklist of essentials and following it as you pack. Stick only to the essentials in clothing, footwear, and accessories. Don’t miss the stuff that you absolutely need, such as medicines, camera, and chargers.
Don’t over-schedule
Over scheduling your travel itinerary will only elevate your stress levels and you may end up feeling exhausted. Obviously, you will want to see and do everything at your destination and time will be a constraint. But over scheduling is the worst mistake you can make. The best way to deal with the situation is by making a list of places to visit and allocate optimal time for each. You may even consider researching online or talking to a local to find about the must-visit places. In fact, skipping some places may not be a bad idea as you can keep them for the next time.
Provide a buffer
When it comes to travel planning, you can never be sure because emergencies happen at any time. You can plan the timelines but cannot stick to the clock. Flexibility is the key to taking the stress out of planning and this is best done with a buffer time at the starting and end of the trip. A day off before you leave will give you plenty of time to pack and get ready for the trip. Similarly, you can really do better with a buffer day at the end of the trip so that you get some rest before rejoining work. This becomes all the important if you are traveling long distances because you will probably experience jet lag.
Choose a relaxing destination
If you really want to do away with stress, choose a destination that offers relaxation. There are plenty of places where you can enjoy peace and privacy. You can check online to find the best spa resorts and meditation centers to relax and rejuvenate. Consider staying in a holiday home rather than a crowded resort or hotel if you want to enjoy alone time. You may also consider a solo trip if the motive is de-stressing. Traveling with the family is fun but not something that you may always want to do. So opt for holidaying alone once a while without feeling guilty!
Be extra ready if vacationing abroad
Traveling abroad requires some extra preparation and being ready will keep you sorted out. To start with, you need to have all the documents. Do check the validity of your passport and have your visa done well in time. You would not want to get into a last-minute hassle with the immigration authorities. Paperwork is not the only thing that you need to worry about. Make sure that you exchange the currency at home itself because you may face difficulties at the new location. Carry enough cash to last through the trip so that you are fully covered. Safety is important as well, whether you go for a weekend getaway or travel internationally.
Have realistic expectations
Vacationers often have unrealistic expectations as they travel to their dream destinations. Don’t expect the trip to be perfect because problems may come up at any time. For example, you may not find a hotel room to be as good as you expected. Similarly, a sick child, bad weather and flight delays are some other problems that can ruin your plans. You can deal with the stress by having realistic expectations in the first place. Always have a plan B in place to keep things hassle-free on every front. Maybe you can explore a holiday villa if you don’t like your hotel room. Who knows what you may end up loving the experience!
Sometimes when you drive through neighborhoods, each house looks almost identical to the next one. This is especially common in old colonial towns and suburban cities with homes that sit almost on their neighbor’s lawn. But with today’s creativity mixed with yesterday’s elegance and our technological advances, your home doesn’t have to be the cookie-cutter design that makes up the typical house structure.
Now, many people are turning to raised floor homes as their preferred style of choice. Raised floor homes have been popular since the Colonial Era. During this time, they were used because of their efficiency. They were advantageous against flooding and elevated snowbanks, kept moisture from intruding into the home and destroying it, and improved insulation. All of these factors were important survival mechanisms that a raised floor helped provide.
But over time those survival mechanisms were less necessary and more optional, and people began to turn away from raised floor homes and build the traditional styles we see so often today. So if basic survival against the elements isn’t an important factor anymore, why are so many homeowners choosing the raised floor houses instead?
Protection from the elements is found in just about any well-built house, but raised floor homes provide more than 10 other noticeable benefits.
11 Benefits of Living in a Raised-Floor Home
Homeowners today expect more than just survival elements from their houses. They want value, style, comfort, and luxury as best as they can have within their budget. While they still focus on protection as the key reason for owning a home, there are many other benefits that can be tacked on as well, says Doug Anderson Property Management.
Raised floor homes are advantageous in many ways, including:
The foundational benefits. Starting from scratch about the advantages of a raised floor home means beginning with the foundation. Your home’s foundation needs to be stable enough to keep your house from shifting as the earth shifts around it. It also needs to be strong enough to hold the massive weight of your home and all of the contents inside of it.
Slabs can be harmed by many natural events, from shifting soils to excessive rain. Tree roots that grow under your house unseen can create cracks in your foundation, causing significant damage to your home.
When a foundation problem happens, it can be difficult to fix if the house is situated directly on the foundational slab. But with a raised foundation, problems can be addressed quickly and with less of an expense because your foundation is now easily accessible.
Ease of access for improvements. The raised floor home advantage doesn’t stop at fixing your foundation. Everything from plumbing to electrical installation and maintenance is now made much simpler since you can get to the pipes and lines with less difficulty. You can even get quick access to your cables and phone wires to upgrade to state-of-the-art technology.
Since it’s much easier to maintain your home’s utilities, there is less likelihood of them causing you problems that result in expensive repairs. You can monitor them or call in regular maintenance to check your systems for you. And when you’re ready to upgrade, your renovations will be less expensive and laborious.
Improved insulation. The Colonial-era homebuilders had it right from the beginning, so why fix a problem that’s not broken? The bare earth is cold and damp, and concrete slabs of cement don’t do much to insulate your home from these elements. But the wood used to create a raised floor insulates your home naturally.
When your home touches the concrete slab or bare earth, it is exposed to the moisture it comes into contact with. This moisture can create problems that spread throughout your house. The raised floor home, on the other hand, prevents this contact, reduces moisture problems, and keeps your floor warm and cozy.
Prevention from pests. When it gets cold or wet, insects and other pests want to be where it’s warm and dry. This means they are going to head to your house to make themselves at home uninvited if your home is on the ground.
Raised floor homes keep uninvited pests where they are supposed to be – on the ground. You have protection from common bugs like ants and roaches. Wood floors are the favorite food of termites, though, so be sure that you have your raised floor system treated for protection from these hazardous pests.
Flood deterrents. In many climates, flooding is a real concern. In the northern states, melting snow causes the ground to become saturated and floods are common. In the southern states, rainy seasons and dry soil cause properties to flood quickly and hurricane season brings dangerous storms with it each year.
Raised floors are a great way to avoid the problem of basic flooding and are commonly found in homes located around lakes and oceans. Choose a floor system that is waterproofed for extra security. For more about waterproofing and other foundational information, check out helitechonline.com.
The enhanced style for a return on your investment. Raised floor homes have an elegance that traditional houses can’t pull off. The wraparound porch complete with a rocking chair and welcoming decor out front is a classic – and a selling point. Your curb appeal will increase.
The raised floor style is an investment that adds to your home’s value. Not only is it stylish and classic, but it is advantageous, smart, and efficient. If you ever decide to sell your house, having a raised floor may increase your home’s value and the interest of buyers.
More square footage. A raised floor system means that you automatically have a porch around your house. You can choose to use this area as an extra living space and set up a welcoming front porch.
If you want to use your extra square footage for furniture, game rooms, entertainment, or other amenities, you can enclose your deck area with screens to prevent anyone else from accessing your possessions. Set up your grill and barbecue on a gorgeous evening or install an outdoor television or jacuzzi and relax. The possibilities are endless.
Better all-around enjoyment. With comfort being one of the key factors most people look for in a home, raised floors add the extra feeling of “coming home.” When your floor is lifted above the ground, your entire panoramic view changes. You can see farther, you feel more positive, and the comfort of your home becomes almost tangible.
You’ll also begin to notice health benefits with a raised floor home. Since you’re not walking almost directly on concrete, your spine will enjoy the comforts of your new home, too. Walking on your raised floor allows a little extra give instead of the constant pressure and intensity that comes with walking on a rock-solid surface.
More opportunities for your yard. When you’re landscaping a typical home, you may have to consider your concrete slab before planting trees and shrubs. You might even have to remove some trees that could end up causing damage to your foundation. But with a raised floor home, you have an entire world of choices that open up to you.
Adding trees to your property might not have been an option before, but now you can enhance your yard with beauty while also saving money, since trees offer a natural shade that can reduce your energy usage and carbon footprint.
Cost is a factor. If you are building your home yourself, you should consider the financial pros and cons of adding a raised floor, as well as the zone you are building in. Flood zones and slopes require certain codes to be met that might be less expensive if you use a concrete slab. The problem then becomes weighing the immediate cost of taking the cheaper route versus the potential for the expenses of damage to your house if a flood does occur.
Adding a raised floor requires the builder to set the foundation on posts and beams and then install the floor. But this increased price reduces the chances of flood or pest damage and decreased the potential need for foundation repairs due to cracked or shifting concrete and pipe damage.
Reduced construction time. Choosing a raised floor home over concrete when you’re building your house lets you avoid the hassle of waiting for the concrete of your foundation to be formed and cured. The dirt has to be hauled in and compacted, and any poor weather conditions can result in costly delays. But a raised floor is usually made from a pier-and-beam or pile foundation that can be constructed in nearly any weather.
When it Comes to Your Home, a Raised Floor is the Smart Option
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And Please Feel Free To Pin A Few Features From Original Source
Hostess Features
♥ Karren Haller // Oh My Heartsie Girl
♥ Indah Nuria Savitri // My Purple World
Feature Chosen by Karren // Oh My Heartsie Girl
Feature Chosen by Karren // Oh My Heartsie Girl
Feature Chosen by Kaycee D Mason // My Crafty Zoo
Feature Chosen by Alice V // DIYerfy
Feature Chosen by Suzan W // Country Crafting
Feature Chosen by Clearisa C // Clearissa Coward’s Command Center
Feature Chosen by Indah // My Purple World
But Now……Lets Party……
Where I Party-There’s More Here
Once you have completed the purchase of your home, it is normal to want to change the furniture according to evolving tastes or to match the dynamic of the new space. Even if you’re renting a place, you want to make it feel like a home, says 
Vacations are the time to unwind after months of slogging and following a daily routine. After all, everyone deserves a break and there is no better way to get one than going on a holiday. But this is just one side of the picture because vacations can be stressful as well. Right from planning a holiday to making travel and accommodation bookings, packing, long flights and more, every aspect involves stress. Financials and logistics can be equally challenging. What’s more, you may feel even more hassled if planning a trip with children. So what can you do to minimize the hassles? Is there a formula to make vacations totally stress-free? Yes, there are some easy tips that work and they are listed as follows:
