Mama Needed

On Friday son #3 was in an ATV accident. He broke his left femur and his right tibia. Yes, that's right, two broken legs. We feel incredibly blessed that it wasn't worse! He's doing well but he needs his mama for the next few days so I'll be taking a blog break. Hope to see you soon.

Ever Grateful

At this time of Thanksgiving I want you to know that

I am ever grateful for YOU!!!
I am truly honored to be a part of your day.
Thank You!

Really Thankful

Things are crazy busy here with family and the holiday but I want you to know that I care about you. I hope you don't mind a little re-post from last year. It's a quick little craft that you can make for Thanksgiving or modify it for Christmas.

I thought it might be fun to make a little sign of the season, a visual reminder of what we need to be thinking. I started with little manilla tags and then added strips of fall colored scrapbook paper to the bottom. I wanted an aged look, so I took out my craft stain and rubbed it around the edges. (You professional scrapbookers would have probably used a different product.) When I was finished, I didn't really like the look. Luckily, the stain is water based so I gently rubbed a wet towel over the entire tag to even out the stain. Now I had the aged look I was after. You could probably achieve this same look by staining the tags with tea or coffee, if you have it.
(The left side is the "after" look) I added some self adhesive scrapbook letters. I couldn't find any in black, so I bought some blue ones and spray painted them before taking them off the page. At this point, I could have used ribbon to string all the tags together to make a cute banner, but I had other plans.

I cut a piece of 6" wide wood and a piece of trim molding to the length I needed. I painted the wood black and the trim red. Once dry, I did a second coat of the opposite colors. Then I sanded both pieces to reveal the original paint. I glued the trim molding onto the wood and then used painters tape to make a straight edge for placing the tags. I adhered the tags using spray adhesive. For the final touch I nailed furniture tacks into the tag holes.

The finished sign looks like this:

Saturday Plans

Last Saturday we drove to a friend's beautiful, newly purchased, cabin in nearby state.

They hired us to build a mantle for the fireplace. (photographed with previous owners items)

I designed a mantle that would make the fireplace more of a focal point, something that would have a "wow" factor.

Hubby and I had a lot of fun! This was our first commissioned build and we couldn't have asked for better clients. We worked from early morning until late evening to get it done. It looks a bit odd right now, but imagine how stunning it will be with a huge black chunky framed mirror hanging in the middle surrounded by over-sized chunky candle holders or urns filled with beautiful red branches.

That's My Girl

You may remember when I showed you my daughter and son-in-law's apartment last spring. Their bedroom was pretty, but not everything they hoped it would be.

That was then. This is now.All it took was purchasing a new comforter set
and pretty curtains.

I advised them to hang the curtains all the way across
behind the bed. It looks luxurious and disguises the off-set window.

Her good friend found the headboard
at the thrift store for seven dollars. A few cans of silver spray paint changed the whole appearance. They also sprayed the lamps and hardware on the nightstands
to match.
All it took was a few simple changes for this roomto go from pretty to glamorous.

A Peek

Here's a sneak peek at some of the items I'm working on for
the room with the gorgeous lamps.

And yes, I'm working on them in my driveway!
No it's not pretty,
but this time of year it's warmer out in the sun
so that's where I work.
(I know what you're thinking...
you're happy I'm not YOUR neighbor)

I Tried

Recently I saw these gorgeous lamps

at the thrift store.
I tried to talk myself out of buying them.
I told myself that they cost too much.
I reminded myself that I already have an
inventory of lamps that could rival
any lamp isle of a department store.
I pointed out that I was only
searching for shades, not the entire lamp.
I warned myself that if I put those pretty things
in my shopping cart it may become
too difficult to take them out.
And then I realized that along with
all those admonishments,
I was also designing an entire room
around those beautiful lamps.
A room that I've struggled with,
a room that needed those lamps for inspiration,
a room that would no longer feel like a cast off
because now it would contain
these beautiful jewels.
And so I rolled my cart up to the cashier
and purchased them.

An Idea to Steal

Are you an idea gatherer like I am? Are you always tearing sheets of ideas from magazines and catalogs, and printing them off the internet? Do your ideas begin to resemble piles of clutter? Or do you have the time to put those piles into little manilla folders and file them away? And then is the saying true, "Out of sight, out of mind" and you forget all about your gathered ideas?
My daughter's friend Jana shared how she managed to keep her gathered ideas neat and handy.
She buys an inexpensive binder and clear protective sheets. She labels the binder and fills the sheets with all of the ideas and inspiration she's gathered.In her December folder she includes a gift list so she can remember about the gifts she's bought and stored throughout the year, (an idea I like because I'm always remembering those gifts when it's too late).She even takes photos of cute gifts she's seen or been given so that she can refer to them for inspiration.Along with the sheets of inspiration for decorating, she inserts easy and cute gift ideas. She includes Christmas stories to read to her children. And family games to play. And activities to do.And the best thing is, it's all contained in a pretty binder so she can easily pull it out each year to be inspired by all of her gathered ideas.

It's an idea worth stealing!

My Friend

Have you met my friend Jen from Sanctuary Art?

We've never met, but I consider her my friend because we have so much in common. We both like to take old furniture, paint it, and personalize it to our home. I'm always so inspired by her creativity, and her humor.

She interviewed me for her blog.
I was so honored that she picked me for her series on Women Who Create.

Please go visit her and while you're there you can read a few tids bits about me.

Understanding Factors Affecting Your Home Insurance Premium

Homeowner’s insurance can be a confusing topic. Because of this, many homeowners don’t fully understand why insurers charge the premiums they do, and as a result, premium charges often go unquestioned by policyholders.

But when you know how insurers determine your premium, you can work with those factors to lower your premium and say goodbye to expensive home insurance rates!

How Insurers Gauge Your Risk

When an insurance company determines your rates, they’re really determining your risk. And according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.), insurers consider some of the following to determine exactly that:

• Where your home is located. Living in high risk areas like the Gulf coast or in crime-riddled neighborhoods drastically increase the chances that your home will be significantly damaged, ruined, vandalized or stolen from. It’s for this reason that you’ll pay more to insure your home in a high risk area.
• The cost to build in your area. Some insurers will look at the construction costs in your area to see how much it would cost to rebuild your home if it were destroyed. The higher the construction costs are in your area, the higher the likelihood that you’ll pay for it in your home insurance rates.
• The materials used to construct your home. Materials like brick and other stone tend to better withstand the high winds that come with tornadoes and hurricanes. If your home is constructed (or partially constructed) from these materials, you’ll probably see a dip in your homeowner’s insurance premium.
• Other risk factors on your property. Insurers will also want to know if you have any swimming pools, hot tubs or trampolines on your property, as well as the kind of breed the family pooch is. All of these factors increase the risk of injury on your property and insurers may increase your rates accordingly.

Saving Money on Home Insurance

With all these factors, how can you save money on homeowner’s insurance? Aren’t some of these factors out of the hands of homeowners?

Yes and no. While you may not be able to control the weather or the actions of others, you can do the following to save money:

• Make upgrades. While you may not be able to change the location or construction of your home, you can lower your premium by upgrading plumbing and heating systems, installing sprinkler systems, additional smoke detectors and deadbolt locks. While these upgrades may take a little elbow grease and money on your part, it’ll lower the risk for insurers—and your home insurance rates.
• Make your home safe. If you have a pool or trampoline, fencing can keep children away from these areas without your supervision. If you have a dog that fits into a “high risk” breed category (like a pit bull), there may not be a lot you can do, and some insurers won’t cover dog bite liability; ask your insurer for details regarding your pooch.
• Insure for the replacement cost. Your home would probably cost more to rebuild or replace now that it did when you bought it. Insuring your abode for the replacement cost will help you avoid any large depreciation if you need to file a claim.
• Review your policy annually. If you sold grandma’s expensive china last year, you no longer need coverage for it. Reviewing your policy annually will ensure that you have the coverage you need—no more and no less.

Start Saving on Home Insurance Today

While you may not be able to control how insurers determine your homeowner’s insurance rates, you can make adjustments to your home to combat premium hikes. In addition to these money-saving tips, always remember to ask your insurance agent about any discounts for which you might qualify. Doing so will get you the affordable home insurance you need to save money—without having to skimp on coverage.

About InsureMe

Megan L. Mahan is a copywriter and insurance information expert with InsureMe in Englewood, Colorado. InsureMe links agents nationwide with consumers shopping for insurance. Specializing in auto, health, life, long-term care and home insurance quotes, the InsureMe network provides thousands of agents with insurance leads every year. For more information, InsureMe.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Megan_Mahan

Homeowner's Insurance 101: What You Need to Know About Home Insurance

Your home is likely to be one of the largest investments you make in your life and you’ll want to protect it accordingly. But home insurance can be a confusing subject—figuring out what it covers and which policy is best for you isn’t always easy. But by learning the basics, you can choose the best policy to protect your treasured abode for years to come!

The Basics

Homeowner’s insurance provides protection against calamities that affect the structure of your home and your possessions.

A standard policy has two main functions:

1. Protects your home and its contents from damage or loss
2. Protects you and your family members from legal damages that may arise from someone who’s been injured on your property

Your policy will also provide you with additional living expenses if you are temporarily unable to stay in your home after a damage or loss. Without these protections, you leave your home and your most valuable possessions at risk for loss—a risk most homeowners can’t afford to take.

Policy Types

There are different types of home insurance available to you, with varying protections and premium amounts. Knowing what you need from a policy before you buy will help you select the right policy and help you to avoid purchasing more than what you need.

The three main types of home insurance policies are HO-1, HO-2 and HO-3:

HO-1: A bare-bones policy that covers basic perils like fire and smoke; wind and hail damage; and theft and vandalism. Because of its limited coverage, however, many states are discontinuing the HO-1 policy, and your agent will almost certainly encourage you to purchase a policy that covers more perils.

HO-2: A basic policy that protects against the same perils covered under an HO-1 policy, plus six more. Additional coverages include water damage from plumbing and home appliances; falling objects; and damage from the weight of snow or ice.

HO-3: A broad policy that covers against all perils except for exclusions such as damage from earthquake, flood, war or landslides. Its extensive coverage makes the HO-3 coverage the most commonly purchased policy.

Other homeowner’s policies are available for condos, mobile homes and older homes. Your homeowner’s insurance agent will discuss special types of policies with you if they apply to you.

Level of Coverage

After you’ve chose a policy type, you’ll need to determine the level of coverage you want.

Generally speaking, you have three options:

Actual Cash Value: This level of coverage pays to replace your home and possessions minus the cost of depreciation. This means you may receive less for your home or items than you originally paid for them.

Replacement Cost: This level of coverage pays whatever it costs to repair or replace your home and possessions without a deduction for depreciation.

Guaranteed Replacement Cost: This level of coverage pays whatever it costs to rebuild your home and replace possessions before the damage took place, even if it exceeds your policy limit. This can protect you from increases in construction costs and other such variables.

While replacement cost policies often cost more money, the level of protection will be well worth it if you ever experience a significant loss or damage to your home.

A Word about Additional Coverage

Flood and earthquake coverage is not covered under standard home insurance policies, much to the surprise of many homeowners. Additional coverage can be purchased through your home insurance agent, as well as through federal programs like the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

While homeowners living in high-risk areas may be required to purchase these types of additional coverage, you may want to purchase some level of additional coverage to boost your protection. Be sure to ask your agent about extra coverages and how you can adequately protect your home from calamities not covered in a standard policy.

Protect Your Home Today.

Living without home insurance is living on the edge. Protect your home and your wallet and use these tips to find the affordable homeowner's insurance protection you need for years to come!

About InsureMe

Megan L. Mahan is a copywriter and insurance information expert with InsureMe in Englewood, Colorado. InsureMe links agents nationwide with consumers shopping for insurance. Specializing in auto, health, life, long-term care and home insurance quotes, the InsureMe network provides thousands of agents with insurance leads every year. For more information, visit InsureMe.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Megan_Mahan

Home Insurance Plans

Scores of people are on the market searching for the best deals on home insurance, with few unaware that when they applied for their mortgage loan a measure of insurance coverage was incorporated into the agreement.

Home insurance comes in many forms, including basic packages, full coverage, standard plans, and home-based business coverage. Many mortgage coverage plans differ, but overall it is similar to motor coverage. Many home insurance plans will cover fire, theft, unnatural and natural disasters and so forth. If you are filing a claim on a break and entry, be advised that few home insurance policies will request a police report and if that report does not indicate a window or door was broken then the company will not provide reimbursement. Thus, thieves are tricky and sometimes breaking in doesn’t entail causing harm to the home. Therefore, read the terms and conditions carefully to know what the policy will cover.

Researching the marketplace can help you find the bargains, however if you have a home-based business you may want to research to learn all you can about the coverage, since few policies are not worth the hassle. There are various questions to ask when you are considering home insurance, including what the plans entail. You may wonder which policy is right for you, thus research can help you find answers to those questions. Policies are different, so you will want to know what coverage is offered to you if you live in an area where floods are frequent, and if coverage is available to you, you want to know the rates of the policies.

Again, there are various home insurance policies, including coverage for mobile homes, condominiums and so forth. Therefore, if you own a trailer or condominium you will need a special type of coverage to care for your needs when insurance is needed. Coverage for home insurance alters, since homes value depreciates over time, and the structural of the home deteriorates. If the homeowner hasn’t invested in upgrading then the policies may consider various aspects before offer home insurance. Most home insurance agencies expect a home to be built of brick, thus if the home is not constructed of brick the company may feel the home is a high-risk. Most policies offer the same type of coverage, though few have more exclusions and restrictions than others do do do.

Deductibles are attached to most insurance policies, and often people find it difficult to determine which level of deductible to choose. This is often because the customer or policyholder does not understand the entire concept of deductibles. Most insurance company’s deduct the deductibles from the reimbursement and then send the remaining balance to the policyholder. Thus, the deductible is how much you are willing to pay out of pocket, which starts at around $200 to $1000 or more. The policyholder is wise to choose a higher deductible if possible, since this will reduce the cost of premiums. Furthermore, when a deductible is applicable, again most companies’ deduct it from the claim and send you the remaining balance. Understanding the deductibles on home insurance is essential since if you agree to a deductible of $500 and you file a claim worth the value of $1000 on your home, then you will receive $500 back from your claim.

The deductible is not the problem; rather the premiums are what most policyholders are concerned with. The premiums often increase when the policyholder files a claim. The premiums may not increase rapidly, but the next time you renew your policy the premium will go up often. Premiums often go over and above since the companies’ are providing incentives. In other words, the company hopes that claims are not filed, but if it should happen then they want their money too. The premiums then cover the expenses the company will pay to reimburse you from loss, damage, and so forth.

If you are searching for home insurance it pays to go online, since overhead is cut from the picture the companies’ can offer lower premiums and insurance rates. Often customers can get various quotes from the online sources, which helps them to determine which policies are best suited for their needs. Finally, if you have a current mortgage, make sure you do not already have coverage available through your lender.

Authored by Michael Bens. For more great information about all forms of insurance visit our free online insurance publication the Gabae Insurance Source to find the information you're looking for!

Also you can check out Gabae Insurance Articles to find the articles' you're looking for!

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Oh, Give Me a Home, Where the Home Insurance Quotes Roam

Are you like me – do you love talking about insurance? Well, who doesn’t really? So let’s talk home insurance, and what you need to know when you get a home insurance quote.

Do you own a home? Do you plan to? You are not required by law to have insurance on your dwelling, but if you carry a mortgage, your lender will most likely require it. If you don’t have or need a mortgage (please, please, tell me how you did that! I am but a poor scribe), it remains a wise decision to protect your investment with insurance. Gather up your information and get a reliable home insurance quote.

How do I go about getting a home insurance quote?

For those of you who have read my other delightful yet poignant insurance articles, you know that I always recommend using a reputable insurance agent. No, that is not an oxymoron. And no, I am not an insurance agent myself. When you need electrical work, do you not call an electrician? Or plumbing work, a plumber? When you want to know the ins and outs of riders, floaters, and umbrellas, call a pro. Get a professional home insurance quote from someone who can meet with you, and address your specific needs.

So once I find one of these “shady” insurance agents, what should I tell him?

Now stop it! They’re not all shady. But here are some issues that you might want to discuss with your agent as he prepares your home insurance quote:

1. Coverage for the structure of your home

2. Coverage for your personal belongings

3. Liability protection

4. Additional living expenses in the event you are temporarily unable to live in your home because of a fire or other insured disaster (e.g. rivers of blood, plagues of frogs).

Most people are aware of the first issue – watching the news, we see homes destroyed by things like hurricanes or earthquakes and realize we need to insure the structure itself - but what about the other three? If you live in a home, odds are pretty good that you also own “stuff” that you keep inside your house. This should be insured as well. Many companies will cover your personal belongings for 50%-70% of the amount of your policy. This means if you have $100,000 worth of insurance on the structure of your home, you would have between $50,000 to $70,000 worth of coverage for your belongings. If you have more expensive stuff, like a Renoir, Monet, or Grandpa’s gold teeth, you may want to purchase a floater to cover the difference.

What do I need liability protection for? Isn’t this just another scam so my agent can produce a larger home insurance quote, and get a bigger commission?

Well, it could appear thus, but remember - insurance is protection against the unforeseen. Liability covers you against lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage that you or family members cause to other people (I didn’t mean to shoot Joey with that BB gun, Dad), and the liability portion of your policy pays for both the cost of defending you in court and any court awards - up to the limit of your policy, of course. Your policy also provides no-fault medical coverage. In the event a friend or neighbor is injured in your home, he or she can simply submit medical bills to your insurance company.

Okay, okay, and the additional living expenses?

Well, what if your house is gone? What if a twister takes it to the Merry Old Land of Oz? Where are you going to live? This part of your coverage pays the additional costs of living away from home, if you can't live there due to damage from a fire, storm or other insured disaster. It covers hotel bills, restaurant meals and other living expenses incurred while your home is being rebuilt. Although coverage can vary, and will depend upon the home insurance quote you received, many policies provide coverage for about 20% of the insurance on your house. You can increase this coverage, as well, for an additional premium. Make sure your home insurance quote details this for you.

Anything else I need to know before I get my home insurance quote?

There’s tons of stuff. But I can’t address it all in this article. However, consider these things as well when your agent gets your home insurance quote for you (you do now have and agent, don’t you?):

-What type of home insurance quote do I need for a co-op or condo?

-What types of disasters are covered?

-What's the difference between cancellation and nonrenewal?

-How can I save money?

-What information do I need to provide to my agent so he can provide me with an accurate home insurance quote?

-What if I can't get coverage?

-How often should I review my policy?

Your agent can help you with these and other questions as he prepares your home insurance quote for you. See, now…wasn’t that fun?

Albert Medinas has developed and maintains the website Homeowners Insurance Directory [http://www.homeownersinsurancedirectory.net], which answers the most common questions people have about Homeowners Insurance. Please visit us at [http://www.homeownersinsurancedirectory.net] today.

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