Any roofing project, even the small ones - are a big job. From minor repairs and tweaks
to the existing structure, all the way through to an entire reroofing process, taking on a roofing project is a big, exhausting, and frankly, terrifying task. A job of this scale, and with this much at stake, deserves to have only the best contractors on the job, and you need to feel comfortable with the people to whom you will be entrusting the future value of your home. Wanna find out more about identifying a reliable contractor, with contactable, legitimate references, a good reputation and a good work ethic? Keep reading for all the right information. *There is no such thing as "too many quotes"*
Anything less than three quotes will not give you enough variety to be able to make an informed decision. The more the better though, and if you have the patience to get more than three quotes, it opens up the playing field so much more. When you request quotes from roofing companies, check that they belong to some form of roofing association or other significant regulating authority and that they are active members, not only historically. It is up to you to make the best decision about your home and its future value, so do take great care to ensure that your due diligence is done.
*Do not succumb to immediate pressures*
Many people find themselves in a position where they need an urgent roofing job done
as a result of a storm, tornado or other natural events. It is only normal to want to restore your roof as soon as possible, but take care: some companies prey on the desperation of others during these stressful times. Be very cautious to not only accept a quote because it shows a lower price. Often, essential functions, like insurance, are left out of quotes on purpose, to make the cost appear lower. These surface later in the process as additional costs, which might see you spending more than you would have in the first place. You will be liable for any injuries, death or damage that take place during your roofing process if this insurance is not in place. Hospital fees after an injury, in particular, can add up quickly, so stay safe and clear, and rather go with a company that can provide the backing you need. *Only sign up for what you know you can handle*
A good contract will protect you from unreliable or ambivalent terms and conditions and provide a safeguard in case the process goes awry for any reason. Many contractors
will include a deposit requirement in the contract, but watch out for any deposit amount that is greater than 10% of the total value of the quote. This could indicate financial constraints within the company, which might not bode well for the future of the project. *“Roofing contractors near me” - a more valuable search than you thought*
Other than the convenience of having someone close by working on your roof, there are
other hidden benefits to choosing this option. A local contractor will be well-versed in the local bylaws and building rules in your area, which could have an effect on speeding up the process. You could also benefit from local reviews, sometimes even from people you know, with the bonus of being able to go and view the work that was done, to see if you would be happy with it. *What about solar?!*
Any form of work on a roof is risky business - there are a lot of variables, and the
industry is huge, with many providers duking it out for the gig. The same is true for solar power. Any additions or adjustments to your roof put the roof at risk of structural issues if it is not done correctly at the outset. From adjustments to an entire reroofing to adding solar, and variations on these, all require the touch of an expert hand, and picking someone near you makes it far more accessible. Pick a contractor who is willing to openly communicate about the work they do, and who does not appear to hide any qualifications or other paperwork from you. If they take long to get back to you, you may not be their most important priority, and in that case, you should keep looking for someone who can deliver what you need.
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The most wonderful time of the year is just around the corner, so you may be thinking of ways to take your decorating up a notch for this year’s festivities. There are lots of ways you can transform your home into a Christmas wonderland for the festivities this year and here’s how you can make it happen.
Choose Your Theme and Style
The common colors for Christmas decorations are red and green but you don’t have to stick to
them. In today’s world, people go with alternative themes that embody their definition of Christmas. You can use metallic decorations like silver and different shades of blue to create a winter- themed Christmas. Pair it with some clear string lights and fake snow to give your space the perfect winter look. You could also try having a nature-themed Christmas with the traditional evergreen tree as your centerpiece. For a nature-themed design, you can have mini trees made out of wood, use dried fruit like dried apples as part of your decorative items, and include elements like pinecones and twigs to give you the look you are going for. Your Tree Decorations
Nothing says Christmas more than a big well-decorated Christmas tree standing pretty in your home. It is where you keep the gifts and create loads of fun memories for you and your family. Before you start your tree decorations, you have to decide on the type of tree you want. There is a real tree that can be found in a tree yard and it adds a natural fragrance to your home. You would also be contributing to the environment and creating a fun shopping experience for the kids by buying a real tree. However, it is prone to shedding and you would have to maintain it to preserve its beautiful look. The second type is the artificial tree. It is preferred by some because it can last for a long time as long as you store it properly. Some come with built-in lights and can be found in different designs. Make sure to check the needles and fluff them a bit before you take them home.
Once you have settled on a tree, you can move on to your Christmas tree decorations. It is important to have a design before you start decorating if you want your tree to have a unified look in the end. Depending on the size of your tree, get a ladder or a small stool to help you reach hidden areas. Decorate your tree with baubles, string or compact lights, tinsel, ribbons, some antique or homemade items, and a tree topper to crown it off.
The Lights Can Make All the Difference
The right lighting can set the mood and increase the effectiveness of your decorations. Imagine
lighting your home up on Christmas Eve and seeing the smile on your loved ones faces when they see how beautiful your home looks. Christmas lights are not for the tree alone as they can be placed on the roof, windows, fireplace, and staircase banister. You can put it in the patio along with a mini Christmas tree to create a cozy look or in the backyard where the kids play. Different Types of Lights
The first type is the incandescent light and it is a bit old-fashioned. It has a good output but
produces quite a bit of heat which could make your decorations prone to burning and consumes more power than LED lights. LED lights are preferred by most since it doesn’t consume as much power or produce the same amount of heat as incandescent lights. It is also a more affordable option. From these two types, you can find different designs of Christmas lights. One of the common designs is string lights which are used on Christmas trees, garlands, and are great for lighting up large areas. Another design is the pathway lights and is used for outdoor areas. Apart from string lights, you can make use of compact lights or icicle lights for your Christmas trees both big and small. Christmas is about having fun and your decorations don’t have to be perfect. There will always be beauty in the imperfections and what matters most, is that you create tons of memories along the way. I'm not much of a breakfast person typically, but when I rededicated my life to keto, I decided I would try to do it right this time, by counting macros and everything, so I "created" this amazing yumminess that I like to call "breakfast". Best thing is, it fits my macros and the collagen is good for my old, achy body. You will notice there's no "jump to recipe" button... because I don't do all that mess, I am gonna give you the goods, right here, right now... mostly because this isn't a "recipe" per se. So, this drink is super easy to make.
All you need is: 3 Tbs Heavy cream (supplies fat) 3 Tbsp Sugar free Sweet Cream flavor creamer (supplies flavor and sweetness) 1 Shot of Starbucks dark espresso roast (I use an espresso machine, But a concentrated shot of brewed coffee should work just fine) 1 Scoop of unflavored collagen peptides. Combine all the above in a small personal blender thingy (like this), shake a few times to mix the collagen powder, then blend. After it's fully combined, add about 5 or so cubes of ice and blend again. Pour into a cup and add a cute (biodegradable) straw, and enjoy! It's no secret jeans are must-have wardrobe pieces. Every one needs at least one or two perfect pairs of jeans in their closet. Understanding the huge demand for this wardrobe staple, several manufacturers have flooded the market with varying denim cuts and styles. For this reason, finding the right pair to match your physique can be a daunting task, especially if you've had children and are now sporting a different body than you did pre-children. Most female shoppers make the "egg-before-the-chicken" mistake in the sense that they pick a pair before matching it to their physique, when, in actuality, they should understand their body types before selecting their favorite jeans. By doing the latter, you can never go wrong shopping for the perfect pair. This comprehensive guide contains what you should know about picking the right denim. Let's talk about color...What denim colour do you rock the most, and why? Of course, preferences vary from one woman to another. However, it is essential to find a color option that complements your lifestyle and other outfits in your wardrobe. For every-day wear, sky-blue jeans may be your best fit. For office-related activities, you may want to stick to black and dark blue denim. On the other hand, you may not be the classic-color person. In that regard, other hues fit perfectly. Not to mention that you can get print denim, spotted leopard and zebra designs. White jeans balance your lower body really well, if you're a little "hippy". What about size...Women, like myself, who are plus size often find it challenging to select a pair of jeans that brings out their curves. To resolve this issue, it is ideal to find one that hugs your curves. In this case, I recommend you go for straight-leg denim as it creates a balance on your thighs and hips – thanks to its form-fitting cut. If you have a more boxy body frame, there are several adjustment options such as, tailoring, to make your denim fit your physique. You can usually have jeans taken in, in the places where they seem baggy or ill-fitting. Last, but not least...To get the perfect denim, you have to take note of specific features, aside from the material cut. First, what is the wash-ability of the jeans... will they hold up to numerous washes? If your choice denim shows a seam strain, you may have to opt for another pair, or find a pair that contains a small amount of lycra to add a little give.
With all the guidelines discussed above, you should have no difficulty finding the ideal pair of jeans next time you check a clothing store It is worth noting that your denim represents you, and with the perfect type, you can make the right fashion statement at your home, workplace, or in any other environment. At the end of the day, we all just want to be loved. Loved by our friends, our family, and loved by yourself. However, most of us struggle to really love ourselves and I feel in order to live your life to the fullest, you need to love yourself and be comfortable in your skin. Easier said than done, right? For a lot of us, it can be really hard to actually love ourselves day in and day out. It can be hard to accept who we are. We point out our flaws and we are truly our own worst critics, but if we are intentional with our actions each day, we can learn to love ourselves and in result, you will be living your best life. Here are a few ways to learn how to love yourself: Learn that perfection isn’t real... Perfect body, perfect life, genius IQ… All of it. Perfection doesn’t exist and when you think it does on social media, it is often masking crippling mental health issues (not all the time, of course). You are never going to be 100% picture perfect, in the way that you want to see yourself. But the good news is: you already are perfect, in your imperfection. We can be hard on ourselves sometimes, and that is natural, but you need to give yourself a break. No one is perfect, and by expecting yourself to be, you are setting yourself up for failure. Set boundaries for yourself... Sometimes practicing self-love isn’t just about speaking kindly to ourselves when we are feeling certain emotions. It can also be about taking care of ourselves when others are around. Set boundaries. Make time for yourself. It is okay to tell people “no” if you think that you need to. Love yourself enough to make the right decision for you and not for anyone else. Self love is a continuous action, a continuous process, a continuous choice. You should constantly be investing in yourself by working on doing things that promote self-love. Look at how you care for others... Take a good look at how you care for others. What do you do to make them feel special? What about when they are having a bad day? Take what you do for others and apply it to yourself. Caring for yourself like you do others sounds simple, but many of us simply don’t do this because we think we are being selfish or that our own needs are not important. They are. It is not selfish to care about yourself. Compassion for yourself means showing concern for your own feelings as well as for others. Treat yourself the way you would treat your children or your best friend - with gentleness, concern, and care. Break out of your comfort zone... When you have a fear, it is very real and it’s hard to break through that, but when you break out of your comfort zone, the world opens up and becomes your oyster. Breaking through fears helps so much with confidence, happiness, and determination. When you aren’t afraid anymore, you can live life more fully, which is what most of us aim for each day. Take a good look at your fears and find out how to break through that comfort zone. Get enough sleep... Sleep is SO important, and often so overlooked in this day and age. I often find that when I’m super busy and stressed out that my sleep cycle takes the major hit. When you have so many things on your plate, it can be easy to justify late nights and early mornings just so that you can squeeze everything in. Sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day, and cutting out a lazy morning in bed is the only option. But, when sacrificing your sleep becomes the norm, your mental and physical health will be negatively affected. Getting enough sleep is the foundation of all forms of health, both physical and mental. In addition to getting enough sleep, make sure that you focus on the quality of your sleep. Creating a bedtime routine is a good first step towards improving the quantity and quality of your sleep and it will truly make you feel refreshed and ready to take on the day. Find your tribe... One quote that always sticks in my mind is: “you are who you are around.” Finding your tribe is essential. This tribe should be like minded and should help you grow and thrive, instead of holding you back. Let’s be honest, though, as we age, it’s a lot harder to find and make friends. How do you even begin? If you are a mom, you can start with your kids sports teams, school, or even on mom groups on Facebook. If you love working out, find a gym that welcomes people and focuses on community, such as CrossFit Solid Orange which is Nashville’s best reviewed CrossFit gym. They pride themselves on creating a fun, exciting atmosphere with friendship and healthy competitiveness, challenges, progress, and growth, helping you to become a version 2.0 of yourself! Their tight-knit community is welcoming to all - no matter your fitness level or goal(s) and that makes it an amazing place to go if you are looking for a tribe to motivate you in life - and in your workouts! Learning how to truly love yourself is not the easiest thing in the world, and it looks different to each and every one of us, but to love and accept yourself for who you are is the first step to living life to the fullest and truly being happy.
I am a true, hard-core Southerner. I believe Dolly is the Blessed Mother, I know all the words to the best Johnny cash songs, and I have never turned down a plate of biscuits and gravy. EVER. When we (hubby and I) decided to rededicate our lives to the lort and Saviour, keto, I knew I would have to find a work-around for this most sacred of southern delicacies. So, without further adieu and without doing that thing that we all hate, where the bloggers go into a long drawn out life story about how their Mama used to fix them biscuits when they were a kid blah blah blah... let's get to the good stuff! Friends, Romans, and countrymen, I give to you southern-style dirty keto biscuits with sausage gravy.
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