Search Results for: blog renovation is it worth it

Parent Participation

Last year I had the alternate pleasure and pain of being involved in a parent participation school. Pleasure because I loved to interact with the children and the parents and we had lovely, lovely teachers. Pain because I had to coordinate a large renovation of said preschool, and large renovations are never fun. We’re going to a parent participation school two mornings a week this school year. My daughter will be doing this part time when I work. Combined with an ample dose of homelearning and a nature co-op that we’re running, this will be our fall. I’m looking forward … Continue reading →

Banking Deals and Banking Fees

Are you looking for a new bank account? Banks are now vying for your business in a new way. They are advertising bank accounts that give you money in the account at start up or money in the account if you create a direct deposit program. New accounts have new features, too. One of my favorite features is the forced savings model, in which the bank rounds up your debit card purchases to the closest dollar and places the extra 30 or 40 cents into a savings account. The idea is that all of these small purchases add up and … Continue reading →

Money that Saves Money

Financial experts often focus on savings. First, they want you to be financially secure, to have enough money in an emergency fund in case a crisis occurs. They also focus on investment, whether this is a mutual fund, real estate, or sturdy little savings bond. This money makes money. However, to have the money to invest, you need to either find money in your existing budget or make a bit of extra money. Last time I wrote about moonlighting for a goal. Moonlighting to create an emergency fund or to put the initial payment into a retirement savings plan is … Continue reading →

Free Family Fun in Big Cities

If you are spending a bundle on gas or airfare to travel to a major U.S. city this summer, then you might consider taking time to visit the following attractions. They’re not only family-friendly and educational, but they won’t cost you a penny to experience. MISSOURI No trip to St. Louis would be complete without a pit stop at the brick Main Street of Saint Charles. The iconic attraction is celebrating the start of summer with weekend entertainment in honor of the city’s 200th anniversary. The free entertainment is just one of 200 events being held in St. Louis this … Continue reading →

How to Find Motivation to Remove Clutter

Let’s face it, sometimes it is hard to find the motivation to remove clutter from your home. The job can sometimes feel overwhelming, even if you break it out into steps. Facing clutter can also be unpleasant. When I just look around and don’t want to de-clutter, I try to find a bit of extra motivation to get me up to the task. When you need a little extra boost, try one of these ideas. Blessing others This past weekend I got a good handle on some magazine clutter. There were two bags worth of current and mostly current magazine. … Continue reading →

Home Week in Review: October 13th Through October 19th

Have your gone out and jumped in some leaves yet? In my household, I do most of the raking and very little of the jumping, but it is all worth it. Take a look at last week’s posts here in the home blog. October 13th Kitchen Design Styles When looking at a kitchen renovation or remodel, the choices are endless. From countertops to flooring to appliances to walls to back splashes, tile, wood, paint, stainless steel, ack. You get the picture. Each little bit that goes into the kitchen has its own set of choices, and then you have to … Continue reading →

De-Cluttering Boot Camp: I Can’t Get Rid of that! 2

When de-cluttering, it is easy to get sidetracked by items that have no place in your world but are still hard to get rid of. A good example was given in Sherry’s post, Treatment of Special Items when Conquering Clutter. In that blog, she talked about taking some old trophies and giving them a place of honor in the home because they really couldn’t get rid of them. If you have an item that deserves that place of honor, by all means take it out of the box or the dusty corner and display it proudly. But what about all … Continue reading →

National Park Service Mansion Tour

Very few of us will ever be lucky enough to live in a mansion, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to dream. I love touring other people’s homes and getting inspiration for my own. And apparently I am not alone. Did you know the National Park Service offers tours of some of the country’s most historically and architecturally significant mansions? Hampton Mansion in Townson, Maryland is one of the Park Service’s largest dwellings, though it doesn’t attract anywhere near the number of visitors that sites half its size do annually. Hampton mansion sits on 63 acres just outside the Baltimore Beltway, … Continue reading →

Post-Holiday Travel Deals in Chicago

There’s no shortage of holiday happenings in Chicago, but once the Christmas trees come down the Midwestern metropolis gets a bit quiet (relatively speaking). Which is why many area hotels are offering post-holiday deals to lure visitors downtown. I happen to love Chicago and have been there often enough to know that the following bargains are worth taking advantage of. Take a look at these outstanding deals, which are effective through January and then peruse the links that follow them. Each article provides details on spectacular Chicago attractions and proves that these hotel deals (at three-star properties in the heart … Continue reading →

Historic Arkansas Hotel Reopens for Business

If you are looking for luxury in Little Rock, Arkansas, I have good news for you. After two years and more than $24 million worth of renovations the historic Capital Hotel is open for business. The downtown property is welcoming back guests in high style. If you are a loyal Capital patron don’t fret about the hotel losing its Victorian charm. That’s still intact. It just added a few extra amenities to go along with it. The historic hotel has added modern touches, such as wireless Internet and flat-screen TVs and it’s also sporting 236 new windows. In addition, its … Continue reading →