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How Archie Moved Into His New Home

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I knew that Archie would have a hard time moving to our new home.  Archie is my sweet little adopted mutt.  He loves routine and our family.  He is a little baby that loves constant cuddling.  Because of my chronic medical problems, I spend hours each day resting.  Archie loves to rest in the recliner with me. Over the months that I spent packing our belongings, Archie was anxious around the packing materials.  Any time that I make any changes in his environment I can sense and see that his response is negative.  As moving day approached, he became accustomed to the mess.  As long as he was getting enough cuddle time he felt safe. Our move was half-way across the country and we spent 3 days making the journey.  We rented a moving truck and loaded all our belongings.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t physically up to driving our car.  We towed it behind the truck and all rode in the cab.  Have you ever been in a 26 foot moving truck? The two steps leading up to the door were very far off the ground.  I used all the hand rails to help pull me up into the truck.  Archie certainly wouldn’t go up the stairs by himself.  We lifted him into the truck and he started shaking.  He shakes in any auto ride in the first few hours.  A few hours after the drive began, he started to calm down.  He took turns sitting in my lap or sitting between my son and I.  We spent a lot of time talking to him and reassuring him that everything was fine. As soon as we arrived in our new home, Archie was happy to get out of the moving truck.   He wouldn’t leave my side and looked very scared.  He followed me around and has stayed under foot now for the last few days.  I’ve tried to  comfort him with the tone of my voice and give him special attention.  The first thing I did was to set out his usual food and water bowl in a spot and showed him where it was.  He was happy to recognize his usual dishes.  He wanted to sniff everything in the new home, and I put out his normal blanket and toys quickly.  We brought plenty of his usual dog treats and offered them frequently.  It’s also important to take care of Archie’s health needs.  I don’t want to wait until he needs some type of treatment to find his new vet.  I’ll be contacting a new vet immediately for a check-up.  All of Archie’s records will be sent to the new vet so that he’ll know all of his health history.  This ensures that nothing will be missed. Here are some of my favorite tips to help Archie with the move: Keep up his routine, as much as possible Bring along his favorite treats and toys Keep his bedding with him, don’t make any changes Speak calmly and reassure him often Share lots of love and cuddles with him Archie will soon be back to his normal anxiety level.  I’ll enjoy the time spent with him, because who doesn’t love extra cuddles? @2019, copyright Lisa Ehrman

Lotus Glass Tea Tumbler Set

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Lotus

Disclosure: Product was supplied for review.  Affiliate link is included. All opinions are 100% mine. Like so many of you, I’m trying to get rid of plastic in my kitchen.  I don’t want to keep worrying what types of chemicals are in my containers and cups.  I also wanted to start infusing water to enjoy throughout the day.  Now on Sale at Amazon – 50% off! Makes a great gift… I was lucky to receive The Lotus Glass Tea Tumbler Infuser Bottle & amp;Strainer.  This beautiful set has a double glass bottle that holds 15 ounces of liquid and keeps it hot or cold for 45 minutes.  It’s the perfect container to take my coffee with me.  It comes with a stainless steel strainer for loose leaf tea and you’ll love carrying green tea or fruit water infusions. The double-walled glass bottle has a reinforced bottom and comes with a beautiful travel sleeve.  It’s BPA free and lead free.  There is no plastic and no chemical smells or toxins to bother you.  The packaging creates a beautiful gift for anyone who appreciates a lovely drink.  Sacred Lotus Love designs their products to help people slow down and feel connected.  They create products to create moments of presence and connection. @2019, copyright Lisa Ehrman

Flipping Houses: Is It Better To Hold?

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Disclosure: Sponsored post. Flipping Houses: Is It Better to Hold?      Never underestimate the power you gain when you purchase a home. Not only does it signify personal independence, but also financial savvy. Every cent you invest into the property will be returned, as long as the housing market stays strong.       Holding onto your property for a long period of time is one smart way to build your investment. Those who operate rental properties will probably tell you about all the time and money you’ll have to sink in before cashing out. So, is it better to hold or flip? Let’s consider the pros and cons of both. House Flipping     Thanks in part to reality TV shows, everyone is looking to buy old and foreclosed homes with the purpose of renovating them. This field attracts the “do-it-yourself” crowd, but contractors can be hired to handle complex tasks. Pros:      Part of the excitement in flipping will come from tallying up the value of each improvement made. The equity on your home will be easy to gauge.      Flippers tend to work with a property for six months. After that, they can sell it quickly to avoid any drastic price drops in your market.      Unlike rentals, your obligations to the property end once you sell it to the new owners.  Cons:      Transaction costs will take a toll on whatever property you end buying or selling. Quick turnarounds mean everything to flippers. If your income fluctuates too fast, it could cause your tax bills to boost.      All of the reality shows and books on house flipping may not prepare you for the unexpected challenges ahead. A depreciated home can take more than six months of work to become marketable again. If you’re looking at homes for sale in Colorado Springs or a hot market, then these are important considerations to keep in mind.       Do not go into any house flipping situation expecting to find a seller as soon as you finish. You may have to hold onto the property longer if the market declines.   Buying-and-Holding      House flipping may only grant you a single lump sum payment. Buying-and-holding promises a higher payout that is equal to (or greater than) when you first bought the house. Those who operate rental homes are buyers-and-holders. Pros:      Real estate values increase over time. The longer you care for a home, the more your equity will appreciate.      Landlords who own multiple properties can enjoy a steady cash flow from each. This is secured by hosting good tenants who are timely on rental payments and create no need for maintenance.      Flippers need a steady chain of sales to make profit while holders can take their time. As long as you don’t need emergency funds, you can afford to wait out market downturns. Cons:      Being landlord means working day and night to satisfy your paying tenants. Keeping track of all your tenants’ needs will require hiring a private management service.      The good tenants are few, but the bad ones are many. Even after eviction, you’ll still have to cover any lingering damages      A home that goes vacant for three months or more will cost you. With no occupants, you’ll essentially be paying to own multiple homes.@2019, copyright Lisa Ehrman

5 Benefits Of Having Plants In The Bathroom

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plants in bathroom

This is a sponsored post.  For more details see my disclosure. Adding live plants to the home has always been a way of accessorizing your decor.  But, placing live plants can also offer many benefits.  We spend a good bit of time in our bathrooms each day, so it’s design is important.  Bathroom design has grown increasingly sophisticated.  With all of the plants to choose from, it’s important to see which plants will thrive in the bathroom. Many plants love humidity, and there is no room more humid than a bathroom.  With all the steam from the shower, lots of people are actually adding plants inside their shower.  That may seem like a strange place to add a plant, but it’s becoming very popular.  They can be hung above the shower in hanging baskets, hung from the shower rod, or in a windowsill.  If you’re lucky enough to have a high ceiling with skylights above your shower, plants that need some light will grow well hung from this location.  And, of course, placing potted plants around your tub will be wonderful. Plants are beautiful and add style to the room.  The huge variety of shapes, colors, and sizes means that you can add plants to many areas in your bathroom.  The textures of the leaves can vary and will be sure to finish off your frugal decorating scheme.  Plants don’t have to be expensive.  Shop around for good deals and a great variety of styles.  Now, with the popularity of the Bohemian style, plants are key to the design.  So, go ahead and get those adorable and trendy Succulents.  Whether you use a solitary potted plant or turn your bathroom into a tropical paradise, the benefits of plants will surround you with beauty. Plants actually bring with them health benefits.  Plants release oxygen and they help to purify the air from toxins.  Bathrooms often have many chemicals (cleaning products and hair styling aids and skin care products), which plants will help to filter.  Some plants actually rid the air of carbon monoxide, benzene, and formaldehyde.  And, who wants to breathe those awful chemicals?  Newer homes have more emissions from building materials, so it would be very helpful to add the following plants to your bathroom: Spider Plant, Aloe Vera, Orchids, and Boston Ferns.  Plants thrive in the humidity, but they also help us to thrive.  Plants are a mood-booster.  Just as being in nature helps us to relax, so does the presence of green plants provide a calm and relaxing atmosphere.  The National Institutes of Health reports a study that wanted to see the difference in interactions with computers vs plants.  They found that the “the subjects felt more comfortable, soothed, and natural after the transplanting task than after the computer task.” (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4419447/) Plants can help to increase your energy level.  I’m never really awake until I have my morning shower.  Adding plants in the bathroom can help to boost your energy level.  Some people add Eucalyptus in the shower, because the oils are released as you bathe. Plants smell good and they can also absorb bad smells.  Some plants have a wonderful fragrance or leave the room smelling like a spa.  Plants can also help to rid the bathroom of the stinky smells that can be found there. Some of the best plants for the bathroom include: Ivy, Bamboo, Jasmine, Philodendron, and Orange Jessamine.  The most elegant bathrooms feature marble.  White marble is the perfect backdrop to lovely plants.  The professionals at Carrara Marble will help you as you choose a gorgeous countertop for your bathroom or kitchen.  You’ll be happy to have them guide you as you select from their huge inventory.  If you stop by the showroom you’ll be entering a fun and educational zone.  You’ll be able to make an appointment to work one-on-one with a design consultant.  They’ll take the time to discuss the project, show you all the possibilities, and take a tour of the facilities. After you select the stone that you want to use, the consultant will go over all the steps, fabrication, and installation timeline.  The Lifetime Warranty on Craftsmanship is also very impressive. Premier Surfaces has locations in 10 states with a selection of high-quality materials.  Whether you’re looking for quartz, natural stone, engineered marble, or solid surface, they have it.  Let the design experts help you create your oasis.  Then, you can finish it with the perfect plants! @2019, copyright Lisa Ehrman

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