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Sources for Peel & Stick Wallpaper

Thanks so much for the positive feedback and comments on my latest bathroom makeover! For most of you, the black and white tropical wallpaper was the big hit!

When designing bathrooms, if I'm not covering the walls with tile, then I'm likely going to use wallpaper! The peel & stick varieties are easy to install and even more easily removable, so they're great for renters or those taking their first step into the arena of wallpaper.

In 2017, I rounded up some favorite removable wallpapers and the year before too. Today I'm back with more favorite patterns. If I had more spaces to decorate right now, I'd use these fresh and fabulous patterns for sure! Also below, find some sources for peel and stick wallpaper for your future reference. :)

  l'amour metallic gold

graphic vine

sea floral

make it rain

hand drawn abstract

outlined leaf

banana leaf

agate

blue & green watercolor floral

parson's paint (multiple colors)

mod gold scallop

  black and white floral

  Sources for Peel & Stick Wallpaper:

Spoonflower

Lowe's

Design Your Wall

Wallshoppe

Chasing Paper

Wall Pops

Walls Need Love

Color Ray Decor

Etsy Vendors:

Sweet Pea Wall Design

Street Workshop

Watercolor Workshop

Livettes

Modified Tot

Rocky Mountain Decals

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How Garden Furniture Can Extend Your Living Space

Turn your garden into a living space with garden furniture. Here's how!

Photos By: Living Etc.

There's no doubt that Garden Furniture allows you to make the most of any outside space. This may be a lawn, patio, decking or just a balcony, and by adding furniture you will fully realize its potential to become a valuable extension of your home.

Traditional or contemporary in design, you have a wide choice of materials, with different types of timber, rattan, stainless steel and all-weather fabrics all proving popular when creating a particular ambiance or complementing the existing landscape.

Today's garden furniture is very much similar quality to the equivalent sofas and chairs you'll find in any lounge and, because it has to deal with adverse weather conditions, it's probably more robust and made from highly durable materials.

The sheer range of garden furniture is impressive to say the least, with online garden furniture suppliers offering table and chair sets for dining and entertaining, benches and loungers for relaxation along with an incredibly diverse range of other items.

Garden Sofas and Ottomans

Nothing illustrates the beneficial impact that high quality furniture can have on your garden than all-weather sofas and day beds. There's no better way to relax and enjoy the company of friends, than on these luxurious pieces that can be left outside throughout the summer months.

Corrosion resistant metal frames are used for strength and these are upholstered with artificial wicker, rattan or easy to clean fabric. Individual items can be used on their own while other piece are joined to form attractive and very useful corner sets. Accessories include deep cushions, stools, dining and side tables in a similar style.

Dining Sets

Eating and entertaining in your outdoor garden is so much better when the chair you're sitting in is stylishly designed from teak or another hardwood, shining corrosion free metal, wicker, rattan, or even decorative moulded resin, and the matching table is similarly eye-catching perhaps with a glass or ceramic top.

Two chairs and a modest table make a lovely bistro set, benches and seats are able to accommodate more guests while individual chairs around a circular, square or long rectangular table create a comfortable and elegant ambiance which adds to your enjoyment of the food, drink and fellow diners.

Picnic Tables

The simplest of these very popular practical pieces of outdoor furniture represent a dining set at its most utilitarian, a central rectangular table and two facing benches offering a place to enjoy simple refreshment.

But even the humble picnic table can have a makeover and there are now versions with substantial railway type sleeper benches or four quarter circle seats with perhaps a slatted back rest surrounding a round table. Children's picnic tables are also available with one showing its versatility doubling as a sandpit.

Garden Chairs and Benches

Weeding and mowing are hard work, and single Chairs and Benches provide useful resting places around the garden, while Companion Seats with a compact middle table, where refreshments or books can be placed, are perfect to share the time of day with someone else.

Again there is a huge range of sizes and styles, timber blends ideally with the landscape and metal will develop an attractive patina. Granite and colourful sandstone will also make an impression, and there are resin examples that boast storage space. If you enjoy sitting in the shade of a tree why not try a circular bench that will enclose the trunk of your favourite apple or oak.

Parasols

To complete your outdoor dining experience, a parasol might be required if the sun proves too intense, and the familiar circular umbrella designs that sit in the middle of the table have received contemporary remodelling in terms of both design and materials.

Cantilever parasols in a range of colours can now stand away from the table, reaching over to provide shade under a canopy that can be as much as 4 mtrs square. There are also 'sail' type canvas sheets that cover a wide area between two aluminium poles, and a curtain can be fitted to prevent any cool breeze from spoiling your enjoyment of the summer.

Hammocks

Finally, Hammocks or swing seats might represent the most comfortable way of relaxing in the garden. With shading from the sun you can swing back and forth on a seat supported by chains or tangle free rods. These aren't children's swings, they are high quality and distinctively designed for adults who want to unwind in the most satisfying way possible.

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How to Create an Inspiring Home Office Space

With the start of a new year, it seems like one of the first tasks we look to is making space for productivity and fresh inspiration. A home office is one of those things that so many of us would benefit from, but can't seem to find the square footage for. The good news is that whether you have just one small corner of your den to work with, or an entire designated room, you can carve out a workspace that's all your own just about anywhere you can place a desk.

(Sourcebook-1)

First, Consider the Purpose of Your Office Space

Before choosing a spot to set up, it's important to ask yourself what you'll need to accomplish in your office area. Will you need a lot of room for organizing and storing files? Or will you simply need a spot to park your laptop? Knowing this will help you determine how much space to budget for.

(Sourcebook-2)

Choose Your Space + Lighting

Ideally, natural light would be key, so look for an open space near a window first. If that isn't an option for you, a lamp or sconce that projects warm, soft light is a good alternative for your desk. If your workspace is small, you may also consider purchasing a floor lamp or a lamp that hangs from the wall to save desk space. Additionally, make sure there is an outlet close by so that you can plug in your lamp or charge your computer as needed.

Choose Your Desk Furniture

If you don't yet have a desk, measure the area you're working with before going shopping. When you set out to find the perfect one, remember that your desk doesn't have to be pricey. Consider searching your local antique market or yard sales around town to find one you can polish up before heading to a furniture store. Even simple, modern desks are easy to find and not too expensive.

Your chair is another important piece of the equation. If you plan to be sitting at your desk for long periods of time, opt for something comfortable and practical. If you prize form over function, choose the chair that speaks to you and simply pad it with a pillow when you find yourself camped out for long periods of time. Before committing to a chair, consider measuring under your desk to make sure you will have plenty of legroom.

(Sourcebook- 3)

Consider How You'll Stay Organized

When buying office supplies and accent pieces, consider giving everything a designated spot. If you have a larger desk, look for desktop organization such as magazine holders or file folders. For a smaller desk, you may have to get a little more creative with wall or floor space. If you have available wall space, installing shelves, cork squares, wall pouches, or a metal wall grid allows for more open desk space. If you don't have much desk or wall space, you could find a filing cabinet or basket that fits under your desk to store office supplies.

This metal wall grid was originally black, but we spray painted it blue to add some color to the space. After it dried, we cut it down with wire cutters to fit the size of the wall space we had to work with. We fastened it to the wall using two standard nails and the clips that came with it. If you plan to hang heavier items on it, you may consider using anchors as well. A metal wall grid is perfect for keeping notes, reminders and other supplies hanging right where you can see them, without taking up precious desk space.

Consider What Inspires You

One of the most important parts of creating your own office is adding your personality and style into the space. What inspires and motivates you most? Think of colors, books, quotes, art prints, your favorite scented candle or even a plant or two. Create a moodboard with tears from your favorite magazines, all pinned on a cork board. Even personal mementos like photos or cards help make the space yours. Consider adding a rug under your desk to help your workspace feel cozy.

To help start you off on the right foot, we designed this 2019 wall calendar to keep you organized this year!

CLICK TO PRINT: 2019 - 8.5 x 11 Wall Calendar

As you're planning for your home office space, we'd love to know what you plan to include and how you're getting inspired in the new year-let us know in the comments below!

S O U R C E B O O K // Here's where you can find the specific products we used in this blog.

(1) Leather Vertical Wall Pocket – magnolia.com Lamp – amazon.com Art – antique Chair – antique

(2) Desk – cb2.com Chair – antique Stool – antique Pencil holder – antique Floating shelves – cb2.com Accordion Lamp – amazon.com Corkboard – target.com Clock – antique Rug – Crew Collection designed by Joanna Gaines with Loloi

(3) Desk – target.com Chair – antique Art – antique Metal wall grid – amazon.com (spray-painted blue and cut to size) Candle, glass organizers, desk lamp, wall clock – Hearth & Hand collection, target.com Basket – antique Agenda Legal Pad – magnolia.com Letterfolk Mini Oak Board – magnolia.com Rug – Kennedy Collection designed by Joanna Gaines with Loloi

The post How to Create an Inspiring Home Office Space appeared first on Magnolia.

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5 Things to Consider When Buying New Appliances

This content was produced as advertising by Remodelista in collaboration with Appliances Connection. One of the most exciting parts of a remodel is the chance to invest in a new suite of state-of-the-art appliances to complement your home's new look. But, it can be one of the most anxiety-inducing parts of the process too-you're committing […]

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What is Private Mortgage Insurance? Why do I need it?

When you're ready to buy a house, you'll need to make a payment during the onset of the purchase, known as a down payment. Your down payment will be a percentage of the entire loan; this percentage varies and can be anywhere from 3.5% to 20%. When you make a down payment, you are taking on part of the risk from your lender and reducing the amount of your succeeding mortgage. After paying your down payment, your mortgage covers the rest of the home's price. For a traditional conventional loan, a lender may require at least a 20% down payment at closing. What happens if you don't have enough money to meet that requirement? Or maybe you haven't had the time to save for this payment.

This is where private mortgage insurance (PMI) comes in.

PMI is sold by private insurers. It is offered in association with conventional mortgages to prevent or reduce potential losses to lenders resulting from the borrower failing to make payments; defaulting. One in three borrowers buys PMI to afford a home, without a large upfront payment. With PMI, home buyers seeking a conventional mortgage have more options to purchase homes without the burden of saving 20% of the home's purchase price.

How does PMI benefit homebuyers?

If you choose to not make the 20% down payment, you still have options for financing a home. How much PMI you're required to purchase depends on the amount of the loan amount, and the loan-to-value ratio.  This ratio indicates how much a loan is compared to the value of your home.  For example, a $100,000 valued home with a $95,000 dollar mortgage will have a loan to value ratio of 95%.  Most PMI rates fall between .5% and 1% of the loan annually, which can be broken into monthly payments, although there are other choices on how to pay for PMI available to you. You're required to obtain PMI and keep the insurance in force while paying for renewal until you build sufficient equity in the property. This is used in the event of a default; so the lender's losses can be reduced. When the loan-to-value ratio is 78%, your mortgage lender is required to drop PMI.

Purchasing PMI may also be beneficial for you if you don't have enough time to save 20% of the loan amount prior to closing. Purchasing PMI gives you the opportunity to be living in your dream home sooner, while making the PMI payments along the way. Multiple loan options make obtaining a mortgage not only manageable, but something to look forward to.

It is important to be aware of your options, and weigh the pros and cons of each to determine what works best for you.

If you'd like to learn more about your options in funding your home purchase, get started with a Union Home Mortgage loan officer today.

The post What is Private Mortgage Insurance? Why do I need it? appeared first on housing buzz blog.

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Houses For Sale in Brewster, KS

443 County Road 1, Brewster, KS, Brewster, KS

Ready for peaceful country living?! This 8 acre property has everything you need to get started including a 1300 square foot home with several big...

414 Nebraska Ave, Brewster, KS, Brewster, KS

FOR SALE! 414 Nebraska, Brewster ~ $65,000. Many updates and improvements in this 3-4 bedroom, 2 bath home including heat, air, siding, windows...

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An Open Letter to Kim Kardashian

Dear Kim,

I need your help. I am impressed that a reality television star, like you, with star status as big as the President's (I mean HUGE), can walk into the White House and bend the President's ear. Thomas Rainer cannot. And that's a shame. 

Rainer, a landscape architect, author and teacher, lives and breathes reality. He loves gardens, nature and clean air, but he doesn't have a television show or a cosmetics line.

Phyto partners Claudia West, Melissa and Thomas Rainer.

I applaud you for making a successful argument for prison and sentencing reform.

Congratulations!

I don't want you to lose momentum because I've got another big idea for you and the President.

If you read Garden Rant, and we hope you do, you will know our readers are crazy about gardens, nature and a healthy planet. 

We may argue details, but we do not dispute the main point: We all want clean air and water. 

The President's EPA administrator, Scott Pruitt, and Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke, each left office due to a blind eye toward ethics that complicated their efforts to cozy up to oil, gas and developers who wanted to horn in on public land. Their departure hasn't slowed the unwinding of environmental regulations. The president has recently doubled down on fossil fuels and poisonous toxins.

Baltimore Orioles Park. Claudia West, lead designer.

It goes on.

There was worrisome news, yesterday, about a 3.4% uptick in U.S. carbon emissions, the largest increase in eight years.

I worry about environmental insolence.

Rainer does, too, whether the government is shut down or open.

Rainer quoted environmentalist Aldo Leopold on Twitter a few weeks ago. I have included here a bit more of Leopold's piece from Round River:

“One of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds. Much of the damage inflicted on land is quite invisible to laymen… We shall never achieve harmony with land, any more than we shall achieve absolute justice or liberty for people. In these higher aspirations the important thing is not to achieve but to strive.”

We are not striving enough.

We are living and gardening on God's green earth, so why do we ignore what others have warned us about for years?

In late December, the President rolled back more environmental regulations. 

The utility companies scratched their heads. They had already invested heavily in Obama-era EPA mandates. The utility companies would have preferred that Obama had not been proactive on these regulations, but now that the cleaner-energy infrastructure is in place, they don't seem interested in going backwards. 

Evolve IP Corporate Center, Wayne, PA. Claudia West, lead designer.

Lawyers are lining up to argue the cost-benefit ratio of clean air and water.  It's déjà vu-René Descartes-style-all over again. 

“I think therefore I am.”

 I think?

Why do we need to continue arguing whether clean air and water are good for you?

We are stuck in the winter mud with remorseless greedheads. 

Kim, next time you're invited to the White House, please insist that Thomas Rainer come with you. You've got the president's attention. He'll listen to Rainer if you tell him. 

Rainer is the principal partner for Phyto, the design firm, in Arlington, Virginia. So not that far from the White House! 

Rainer is compelling. On his blog he wrote “More than ever, we need planting solutions that are resilient, ecologically functional and beautiful. Our goal is not merely to create more functional landscapes, but to make people see again, to make them remember.”

Evolve IP Corporate Center

In Planting in a Post-Wild World, the book Rainer co-authored with his colleague Claudia West, he lays out a new way of thinking, and an “optimism for the future of design” that “…does not seek nature in remote mountaintops, but finds it instead in the middle of our cities and suburbs. It looks at our degraded built landscapes with unjaded eyes, seeing the archipelago of leftover land-suburban yards, utility easements, parking lots, road right of ways and municipal drainage channels-not as useless remnants, but as territories of vast potential.”

Kim, before you return to the White House with Rainer, I am willing to solicit nursery and greenhouse sponsors for seed and plant giveaways for Rainer's presentation. (I know people in high places.) The White House staff will love the free goodies.

Don't worry if the giveaway idea smells like influence peddling. The President's Press Secretary Sarah Sanders can take care of anyone who gets testy.

Rainer might even give the President a signed copy of Planting In A Post-Wild World. No, I take that back. The President doesn't read books. You can have the signed copy. I haven't read a more instructive gardening and design book in years. 

One more favor: I'm sure Rainer wouldn't mind if you plugged his book to your 124 million Instagram followers.

Yours truly,

Allen Bush

An Open Letter to Kim Kardashian originally appeared on GardenRant on January 9, 2019.

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A Celebration of Punchy Colors & Delightful Kitsch in Chicago, IL

I think it is splendidly satisfying when a home reflects its owners through and through - when you walk into a home and know exactly who it belongs to without any prior debriefing. This is the complete opposite of someone who might be gregarious in their wardrobe or social pursuits, but prefers a stark and minimal home; or maybe a fun and outgoing home for an otherwise introverted person. I'm talking about the kind of home where the owner's personality is downloaded, word-for-word, into every room of the home. When this happens in design, it's downright magical.

Which is why I am so enamored by the Chicago, IL home of Anna Rafferty and Richard Schreiber (and their cats Bob and Barbara). Richard is an elementary school art teacher in Chicago Public Schools, and Anna sells fantastic vintage clothes - and their affinity for creativity is plain as day. “I have a vintage clothing brand called Barbie Roadkill Vintage; I sell on Etsy as well as in a retail space that I share with two other women called Festive Collective (it's a colorful pink dreamland specializing in party supplies and vintage; you have to check it out if you're in Chicago!),” Anna begins. “I'm attracted to the bold colors and prints I grew up with in the 80s and 90s, and my vintage shop and home decorating aesthetic reflects that. My husband Richard is an elementary school art teacher, and lucky for me, he's a fan of color, too! He's content to let me handle the decorating and I'm more than happy to let him do the dishes.”

Tucked onto the third (top) floor of a 1922 condo in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood, Anna and Richard bought this 1,200-square-foot home in August 2018. Crayons in hand (yes, crayons), Anna got to work sketching her technicolor plans for each room. “My main goal with our home was to inject as much color into each room as possible without it looking too gaudy,” she shares. “We didn't have the budget for designer and mid-century modern furniture and decor that we love, so most of our things are secondhand from Craigslist or thrift stores, but we still sought out pieces that felt special and well-made. Ultimately, we wanted the space to feel impactful but still inviting and comfortable.” Anna's vibrant plans are now reality - with some changes and tweaks made once the couple moved into the space and really felt it out - resulting in a pleasing blend of in-your-face color, joyful accessories and vintage sensibilities. It's a home that's sure to draw out a smile. -Kelli

Photography by Anna Rafferty / @barbie_roadkill & @thefestivecollective

Image above: The main bedroom. Anna shares, “We hired painters before we moved in, which we've never done before and it made a huge difference to have that done first. I made sketches (on paper with crayons, I'm not tech-savvy at all) of how I thought the rooms would look, but most rooms ended up quite different once we were actually working in the space. There's only so much mapping and planning that can be done in advance; a lot of decorating is trial and error… It feels like home now, after six months, but there are still projects on my to-do list (and there probably always will be!).”

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Printable Desk Pad To-Do List

They say some things never change: death, taxes…and to-do lists. Okay…maybe I added that last one.

I'm sure we can all agree that to-do lists are a part of life that will never go away…and if I'm being honest, there are few to-do list items that carried over from 2018! As long as we'lre going to have to-do lists, we'd might as well make them pretty, printable and FREE. I've got all three covered with this adorable printable desk pad to-do list that will look lovely in your home office or at your work desk. Either way, I can promise friends and coworkers will ask about the trendy, expensive boutique where you bought it. Don't worry, you don't have to tell them you got it for free. Your secret's safe with me!

This to-do list is a biggie …not some puny little notepad that will get crumpled and lost in the depths of your tote bag. This baby weighs in a 11×17″ and is printable with the magic of the Canon PIXMA TS9521C printer. This printer can tackle a variety of paper sizes and offers borderless printing on 12×12″, 7×10″, 11×17 and more! Today, we're printing on tabloid sized sheets and assembling them into a tear-away notepad that will keep you organized all year long!

CLICK HERE to download and print yours!

STEP ONE

To print your to-do list, you'll need the Canon PIXMA TS9521C printer loaded with 11×17″ paper in the rear tray. You'll also need a piece of chipboard (optional) , some decoupage glue, a paint brush and a few bull clips.

  STEP TWO:

Clip the pages together then brush the edges with decoupage glue. Allow it to dry completely then go back with another layer of glue. Once it's completely dried, the glue will hold the pages together and you can tear them away as you complete each week!

So easy and a colorful way to stay organized!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Canon. The opinions and text are all mine.

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CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT SHORTBREAD

We went out last night to pick up a tree. The kids were bundled and the packing blanket was in the back to protect the roof. This is the first year both of the kids are super jazzed about the holidays. Curran (4.5) is excited for new toys and allllll the colorful, tacky decor. I am told every day that the white lights we have on the house are NOT festive AT ALL. Cleo is excited about whatever Curran is excited about lately, so anytime we see lights (trees, wreaths, fake reindeer, whatever) squealing ensues. It was cute at first, and now it's just… loud. But truly, I love it. The first few years of parenting are so much work, with few of those personal connections where you actually get to see your children as a people. The more I get to know them, the more I like them. Even the complicated, emotional parts. Anyway, their excitement is infectious, and their Scrouge McWhite-Christmas-Light-Preferring mother is even considering putting rainbow lights up somewhere… like inside their room ;)

Anyway, the tree. I had this romantic idea about the tradition of picking out a tree and how we would pick up dinner after and decorate it, fireside, with classic Christmas tunes. As it turns out, it was not the romantic vision I anticipated in my head. There was a time this would have wildly disappointed me, but kids have lowered my expectations for the better. We ended up at Costco which I love for many reasons, but rustic tree buying experiences is not one of them. I mean you can't even see the trees, they are all wrapped in twine in bins and you just take a wild guess. Curran seems to be recovering from a minor concussion so complains and whines frequently, and I get that he doesn't feel well, but, again, with the Cleo doing everything he does. Our dinner was underwhelming and by the time we got home, people needed to go straight to bed. They both screamed at the reality of needing to take a warm shower (how dare me!), and tucked away they went. There was no decorating, no songs, no fire.

I am not disappointed, this is life. When I think back about getting a tree and decorating it with my family, it was not some Norman Rockwell scene every time. Traditions and memories in their imperfect state are just as nostalgic for me as the ones where everything went 'right.' Fighting over whose year it was to put the angel on top, holding the twine down through the windows of the mini van to make sure the tree didn't fly off, how all the limbs starting breaking off the clay wisemen in the manger scene and no one bothered to glue them back on, or the year a votive candle lit a garland on fire. I would maybe argue that the messy parts, the imperfect parts, are actually more interesting. I don't think I even remember the moments that went as planned, if there were any. So Mr. Frankie, the bare, unlit, lopsided tree, is sitting in the living room, reminding me that all I want for this month is just to soak in the holidays and stay flexible. Mayyyyybe we'll even put rainbow lights on him this weekend.

CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT SHORTBREAD

Makes 18

Recipe adapted from Real Simple

I made these a touch sweeter than the written recipe because well, it's a holiday cookie. You could sprinkle crushed peppermint candies on top while the chocolate drizzle is still soft and that should act as glue for the candies. If you have tried Dorie Greenspan's World Peace Cookies , they are basically shortbread with a bit of baking soda to help them rise a bit. I've tried it here, but don't think it changes them wildly, so it depends how dense or light you prefer your cookie. Add 1/2 tsp. if you want to try. These are snappy day one, and start to become more tender as they sit. Taste great either way, texture changes, just a fyi.

Ingredients

1/2 cup/1 stick plus 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, room temperature 1/3 cup light brown sugar 2 Tbsp. natural cane sugar 1/2 tsp. sea salt 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1 cup all-purpose flour

3.5 oz. bar of dark chocolate 1/4 tsp. peppermint extract

flaky salt, for garnish, optional

Instructions

In a stand mixer with paddle attachment or with an electric mixer, beat the butter and both sugars until fluffy. Add the salt, vanilla, peppermint and beat those in to combine. Add the cocoa, flour and beat until just combined, do not over mix. Roll the dough into a log about 2” across (this is kind of hard, just do your best), wrap it in plastic wrap and chill for at least an hour, or overnight. Alternatively, you can roll it out and use cookie cutters to make shapes.

Preheat the oven to 325' and line a baking sheet with parchment (maybe two, or work in batches). Slice the cookie log into 1/2” coins and arrange them on your baking sheet. They won't spread much, but give them an inch between for safety. Bake for 10-12 minutes until just dry on the edges. They will look raw in the center but that's ok! Pull them, and let them cool.

While they cool, melt the chocolate either in the microwave or in a glass bowl over a pot of simmering water. Stir in the remaining peppermint extract. Drizzle it on top of the cookies, sprinkle flaky salt or peppermint candies, if using, and let the chocolate set. Enjoy! Cookies will keep at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Sara Forte 2018-12-04

CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT SHORTBREAD

18

A pepperminty, chocolate shortbread cookie with a chocolate drizzle because it's the holidays.

1/2 cup/1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature1/3 cup light brown sugar2 Tbsp. natural cane sugar1/2 tsp. sea salt1/4 tsp. vanilla extract1/2 tsp. peppermint extract1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder1 cup all-purpose flour

3.5 oz. bar of dark chocolate1/4 tsp. peppermint extract

flaky salt, for garnish, optional

49 calories5 grams fat1 grams carbohydrate0 grams protein

In a stand mixer with paddle attachment or with an electric mixer, beat the butter and both sugars until fluffy. Add the salt, vanilla, peppermint and beat those in to combine. Add the cocoa, flour and beat until just combined, do not over mix. Roll the dough into a log about 2” across (this is kind of hard, just do your best), wrap it in plastic wrap and chill for at least an hour, or overnight. Alternatively, you can roll it out and use cookie cutters to make shapes. Preheat the oven to 325' and line a baking sheet with parchment (maybe two, or work in batches). Slice the cookie log into 1/2” coins and arrange them on your baking sheet. They won't spread much, but give them an inch between for safety. Bake for 10-12 minutes until just dry on the edges. They will look raw in the center but that's ok! Pull them, and let them cool. While they cool, melt the chocolate either in the microwave or in a glass bowl over a pot of simmering water. Drizzle it on top of the cookies, sprinkle flaky salt or peppermint candies, if using, and let the chocolate set. Enjoy! Cookies will keep at room temperature for up to 3 days.

PT1H10M

PT12M

PT1H22M

american

Dessert

cookie, holiday, chocolate, treat, dessert

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[Infographic]: The Cold, Hard Truth - Budgeting for Commercial Property Taxes

It is a cold, hard truth that budgeting for commercial property taxes can be difficult. The stakes are high. If you get it wrong, your annual property tax bill can often be a budget-breaker. To create a meaningful budget that truly helps you manage your cash flow, owners need to know and understand the realities of property tax.

• GAAP won't work - GAAP requires amortized historical cost while property tax requires fair market value.

• Unpredictable - Process controlled by local taxing authorities and tax payers have the burden of proof.

• Local resources - State law is executed at the local level with available resources.

Before you need to grab a lifeboat, learn more in our infographic below.

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The Landscape Revisited - My most valuable lessons of 2018

The 2018 growing season is coming to a close. Thanksgiving is behind us and the next holiday season is closing in. In Massachusetts, we've already had eight inches of snow dumped on us. At my company, as we're valiantly struggling to keep working through the snow, rain, frost, and mud, I realize the mixed blessing that garden making is for me, my staff and our clients. Full of ups and downs, successes and failures, working in the landscape and with nature is not a task that anyone should take on if they expect a predictable, repeatable work environment. That isn't a good description of the outside work life...at least not where I live.

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Prepare like a Pro – 4 Winter Landscaping Tips

As the temperatures continue to fall, daylight hours get shorter, and the final leaves begin to fall off the trees. One might think this marks the end to another season in the landscape.  In one aspect, this is correct; the growing season is over.  But, there is still much you should do to the landscape to prepare it for the stresses of Winter.  Here's 4 Winter landscaping tips from a pro.

Winter Landscaping Tip #1 – Dormant Season Pruning

Pruning of your trees and shrubs during the growing season, in most cases, is a must.  To keep the plant clean and shaped, cut back some of the new growth that comes out as it grows.

Once the plant goes dormant however, one would think that there is no need to prune anymore.  That is not the case!  When there are no longer any leaves on the trees and shrubs, you can easily see up into the plants.  This inspection may reveal a very thick and densely branched tree or shrub.  In most cases, this is not an ideal growth habit for the plant.  Thinning to reduce that density of the branches will help the overall health of the tree or shrub.

Another benefit that dormant season pruning has for you is that the debris that you create from the pruning is substantially less because there are no leaves to worry about.  In some cases, this translates to a lower cost to have a professional do the job.  Less debris means less for them to haul away.

Winter Landscaping Tip #2 – Perennial Cut Back

Another type of plant that benefits from pruning are perennials.  As freezing temperatures hit, most Spring, Summer and Fall blooming perennials begin to store their energy for the Winter down in their root system.  The result is a brown plant on top.  You could leave these ugly, brown remnants of the perennial in your landscape, but that isn't very visually appealing.  Also, having a lot of dead foliage in your garden provides great places for rodents to hide and feed on the root system of your plants.  The best thing to do is to cut back the foliage remnants of your perennials.  Your final result will be plants cut to a few inches above ground level.

Winter Landscaping Tip #3 – Fertilization of Trees and Shrubs

Giving your trees and shrubs the proper nutrition is vital to the success of their growth and structure.  With a low amount of nutrition in the soil, many plants will struggle to stay healthy.  Plants will lack the proper color foliage and have limited blooms.   Additionally, having a stressed tree or shrubs increases the chance of disease or insect infestations.  There are two main type of fertilization that can be done in the Fall that help the landscape.  A liquid fertilization can be performed around the drip line of a tree or shrub and instantly puts the nutrients into the soil.  A granular fertilization is also placed around the drip line of the tree or shrub and the product will slowly dissolve into the soil.

Either option is a good choice for the Fall.  The vital nutrients that are in the fertilizers will remain in the soil until the Spring time.  This means these nutrients are ready be there to be taken up once the plant emerges from Winter.  Fertilization can be done in the Spring time for trees and shrubs too, but it can take some time in order for nutrients to be absorbed.  So, having the greatest impact starting the Spring season off would be a Fall fertilization.

Winter Landscaping Tip #4 – Fall Planting

Once you have gone through your landscape pruning your trees and shrubs, cutting back your perennials, and fertilized the beds, you may begin to starting thinking about what next Spring could bring and what you could do now to fill in a few areas that just seem to be missing something.  A good thing to do in the fall is planting of perennials, trees and shrubs.

A large benefit of planting in the fall is the reduced amount of watering you will need to do.  When you plant something in the spring or early summer, the foliage and root system are actively growing.  This means a large amount of water to keep them going.  When you plant in the Fall, perennials, trees and shrubs are just about dormant.  Because the ground stays moist with more frequent rainfalls it takes the watering labor away from you.

Also, when planting in the Fall make sure to provide your new and existing plants with a good layer of mulch to help insulate the soil.  This practice helps reduce the chance of heaving from the alternating freezing and thawing of the ground.

  Being outside in late Fall weather may not always be pleasant, but making sure your trees and shrubs are protected from the potential damages of the Winter are necessary.  Making sure you tackle each of these steps above will help to ensure that your landscape is properly protected this Winter.  If you'd like a free consultation about Winter landscaping, please Contact Us.

The post Prepare like a Pro – 4 Winter Landscaping Tips appeared first on Tomlinson Bomberger.

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Prepare like a Pro – 4 Winter Landscaping Tips

As the temperatures continue to fall, daylight hours get shorter, and the final leaves begin to fall off the trees. One might think this marks the end to another season in the landscape.  In one aspect, this is correct; the growing season is over.  But, there is still much you should do to the landscape to prepare it for the stresses of Winter.  Here's 4 Winter landscaping tips from a pro.

Winter Landscaping Tip #1 – Dormant Season Pruning

Pruning of your trees and shrubs during the growing season, in most cases, is a must.  To keep the plant clean and shaped, cut back some of the new growth that comes out as it grows.

Once the plant goes dormant however, one would think that there is no need to prune anymore.  That is not the case!  When there are no longer any leaves on the trees and shrubs, you can easily see up into the plants.  This inspection may reveal a very thick and densely branched tree or shrub.  In most cases, this is not an ideal growth habit for the plant.  Thinning to reduce that density of the branches will help the overall health of the tree or shrub.

Another benefit that dormant season pruning has for you is that the debris that you create from the pruning is substantially less because there are no leaves to worry about.  In some cases, this translates to a lower cost to have a professional do the job.  Less debris means less for them to haul away.

Winter Landscaping Tip #2 – Perennial Cut Back

Another type of plant that benefits from pruning are perennials.  As freezing temperatures hit, most Spring, Summer and Fall blooming perennials begin to store their energy for the Winter down in their root system.  The result is a brown plant on top.  You could leave these ugly, brown remnants of the perennial in your landscape, but that isn't very visually appealing.  Also, having a lot of dead foliage in your garden provides great places for rodents to hide and feed on the root system of your plants.  The best thing to do is to cut back the foliage remnants of your perennials.  Your final result will be plants cut to a few inches above ground level.

Winter Landscaping Tip #3 – Fertilization of Trees and Shrubs

Giving your trees and shrubs the proper nutrition is vital to the success of their growth and structure.  With a low amount of nutrition in the soil, many plants will struggle to stay healthy.  Plants will lack the proper color foliage and have limited blooms.   Additionally, having a stressed tree or shrubs increases the chance of disease or insect infestations.  There are two main type of fertilization that can be done in the Fall that help the landscape.  A liquid fertilization can be performed around the drip line of a tree or shrub and instantly puts the nutrients into the soil.  A granular fertilization is also placed around the drip line of the tree or shrub and the product will slowly dissolve into the soil.

Either option is a good choice for the Fall.  The vital nutrients that are in the fertilizers will remain in the soil until the Spring time.  This means these nutrients are ready be there to be taken up once the plant emerges from Winter.  Fertilization can be done in the Spring time for trees and shrubs too, but it can take some time in order for nutrients to be absorbed.  So, having the greatest impact starting the Spring season off would be a Fall fertilization.

Winter Landscaping Tip #4 – Fall Planting

Once you have gone through your landscape pruning your trees and shrubs, cutting back your perennials, and fertilized the beds, you may begin to starting thinking about what next Spring could bring and what you could do now to fill in a few areas that just seem to be missing something.  A good thing to do in the fall is planting of perennials, trees and shrubs.

A large benefit of planting in the fall is the reduced amount of watering you will need to do.  When you plant something in the spring or early summer, the foliage and root system are actively growing.  This means a large amount of water to keep them going.  When you plant in the Fall, perennials, trees and shrubs are just about dormant.  Because the ground stays moist with more frequent rainfalls it takes the watering labor away from you.

Also, when planting in the Fall make sure to provide your new and existing plants with a good layer of mulch to help insulate the soil.  This practice helps reduce the chance of heaving from the alternating freezing and thawing of the ground.

  Being outside in late Fall weather may not always be pleasant, but making sure your trees and shrubs are protected from the potential damages of the Winter are necessary.  Making sure you tackle each of these steps above will help to ensure that your landscape is properly protected this Winter.  If you'd like a free consultation about Winter landscaping, please Contact Us.

The post Prepare like a Pro – 4 Winter Landscaping Tips appeared first on Tomlinson Bomberger.

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How to Remove Coffee Stains and Messes in the Office

Coffee is a staple that can be found in nearly all office buildings. Unfortunately, numerous people walking around with their coveted cups of Joe are bound to leave behind coffee rings on tables, stains on carpet and spills on upholstery. Coffee stains are pretty much inevitable, so you need to know how to handle these common office mishaps.

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Nova's Play Kitchen (IKEA Hack)

Hello, friends! Today, I'm excited to share the IKEA play kitchen we made for Nova's Christmas gift. I was highly inspired by Laura's project and also Molly's from Almost Makes Perfect. I spent so much time scrolling Pinterest looking at ALL the beautiful versions of this project people have done and it's amazing. I love that so many people have customized them in different ways. It's a thing!

For most people, a big part of it is to try to make the play kitchen look sort of like your own home. So I did the gold hardware and also used some leftover wallpaper (it's actually the wallpaper we used in our kiddo bathroom). Beyond that, I kept it mostly neutral since our mini kitchen will now live in our real kitchen and our kitchen is mostly neutral.

I was able to use a lot of items we already had for Nova's kitchen. The stand mixer and espresso maker were gifts she received last Christmas (I painted them to match) and the play food was a shower gift that we used in her outdoor space all summer. The plush vegetables in the basket are from IKEA, as well.

We stored more play food and more plates and accessories in the cabinet. I tried to minimize the amount of plastic I was purchasing for this and there were SO many cute wood options!

These utensils are here and here. We did drill holes in all the utensils so we could add strings and hang them along the backsplash.

I painted two burners with a gold paint pen.

If you want to see how to do the undermount sink, I got that idea from Laura's and I got the idea for the wood knobs (in front of the stove) from Molly's. The main things I added to make ours unique was the wallpaper and the wood stars, which were glued to the front cabinet and then painted white to match.

I'm sure I will add more and make tweaks if she seems to be using it a lot … I really hope she loves it!

So happy with how this turned out! It really is a dream come true to make customized toys for Nova! If you have any questions, let me know and Collin and I can help you figure it out!

Thanks so much for reading! xx. Elsie

Credits//Author: Elsie Larson. Project Assistant: Collin DuPree. Photography: Amber Ulmer. Photos edited with A Color Story Desktop.

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3 meaningful ways to use your holiday bonus

The holidays are here! That means quality family time, sumptuous dinners, and an endless stream of cheesy Hallmark movies.

And if your boss decided to play Santa this year, it might mean a holiday bonus for you.

That bonus is likely to be pretty hefty too. The average holiday bonus in 2017 was close to $1,800, according to a survey by staffing and recruitment firm, Accounting Principals, and it's expected to grow with each year.

When you get your bonus, you'll find yourself faced with a great question: How should you use your Christmas bonus?

We're all about the Rich Life here at I Will Teach You to Be Rich. That means using your money to build the kind of life you want to live. To do that, you should use your holiday bonus three ways:

Spend it

Save it

Invest it

Let's take a look at each area now and break down how you can optimize your holiday bonus.

Christmas bonus tip #1: Spend it

The first - and arguably, most fun - thing to do with your holiday bonus is to spend it. After all, what's a Rich Life without spending extravagantly on the things that you love?

Notice I didn't say spend it on the latest tech or fashion. I said spending it extravagantly on the things you love.

That could mean spending your bonus on the latest fashion or tech, but if you really examine what you love spending money on, you might be surprised to find it's something else entirely.

The area where you love to spend your money is called a Money Dial. These are things you naturally gravitate to when it comes to your spending. Once you recognize your Money Dial, you'll be able to lean into it and spend more in that area - while ignoring most everything else.

Take Ramit Sethi, founder of I Will Teach You to Be Rich, for example. If you took a look at his spending habits for just a few minutes, you'll be able to see that his Money Dial is convenience. He knows this too. That's why he has that dial turned all the way up to 11. That means spending money on:

A private chef ($21,635.64 / year)

A personal trainer ($16,380 / year)

A nutritionist ($3,000 / year)

Not to mention his personal assistant who helps plan his day-to-day schedule as well as his travel arrangements. That means when he travels, he'll get his favorite seat on the airplane, the perfect room in the perfect hotel, AND he'll have food waiting for him at the check-in desk so he can keep up with his personalized diet.

Source: Instagram

All told, he spends more than $50,000 on convenience each year. That might seem crazy to you - and that's okay. Convenience is a Money Dial for Ramit and a lot of other people. You might have a different one, like travel.

People who have the travel Money Dial love to spend money on everything travel related. They tend to know exactly where they're traveling for the next year starting on January 1st, and they have a massive list of potential destinations they want to go to next.

If you turned this Money Dial up, that can mean things like:

Luxury safari tours ($3,000 / day)

Inspirato membership ($3,500 / year + $20,000 initiation fee)

Private tour of the Vatican ($300+ / person)

ACTION STEP: Spend your holiday bonus on your Money Dial

If you don't know what Money Dial you naturally gravitate to is, that's okay. It's actually fairly simple to figure it out.

As Ramit says, “Show me a person's calendar, and I'll show you their priorities.” If you showed me your bank statements, I could tell you your Money Dial.

Spend 10 minutes examining last month's bank statement. What common themes do you see?

Are you spending money at the gym and workout clothes? Maybe your Money Dial is fitness.

Are you spending money on movies and events with your kids? Maybe your Money Dial is family.

Are you spending money on the newest shoes and clothes? Maybe your Money Dial is fashion.

Once you've identified this, you can actually save money by spending more toward your Money Dial. By knowing what really matters to you, leaning into it, and mercilessly cutting out spending in other areas, you'll be able to actually save money and put it toward the things that make you happiest.

No matter what your Money Dial is, recognizing and leaning into it will help you live a Rich Life.

Which brings us to …

Christmas bonus tip #2: Save it

Sure it's easy to spend your holiday bonus money on something fun for yourself - but maybe you should put it away for your savings goals.

When it comes to savings goals, there are two great ones you should consider putting your holiday bonus into:

An emergency fund

A BIG purchase

An emergency fund is money you've saved for unexpected spending. While the amount you'll have in your emergency fund is going to be different from the next guy, a solid rule of thumb is to save three to six months of living expenses.

This encompasses things like:

Rent

Utilities

Food

Mortgage

Car payment

Student loans

Why save for these things? Simple: You don't want to go into a financial crisis because of an unexpected expense. I'm talking about things like emergency medical bills, car repairs, or loss of income. A rainy day fund helps soften the financial impact of an emergency.

The second area you can save is for a BIG purchase. I'm talking about things like a down payment on your home or your future wedding.

A great way to do this is by saving money in a sub-savings account. These are smaller accounts you can create along with your normal savings account. The difference is that your sub-savings accounts are dedicated to specific purchases or spending.

Sub-savings accounts are crucial psychologically. By reminding you of what you're saving for, you'll be able to keep motivated to accomplish your savings goals.

When I received my holiday bonus last year, I decided to treat it like I would any paycheck and divide up a specific percentage of it into my different sub-savings account. It was great seeing them balloon even more after the bonus.

My sub-savings accounts. Notice I have one for my emergency fund as well!

ACTION STEP: Decide how you want to save your holiday bonus

Whether you put some money into an emergency fund or a sub-savings account, saving is a crucial part of ensuring your financial future. If you really want to see your money grow in the long term, though, there's no better way than investing.

Christmas bonus tip #3: Invest it

Investing is possibly the most crucial thing you can do today to make sure you're financially stable in the future.

That's why you should consider investing a portion of your holiday bonus when you receive it. When you do, your holiday bonus will grow over time.

For example, let's assume you got a holiday bonus of $500. Not too shabby. Now let's see what happens if you invested it in a low-cost, index fund that tracked the S&P 500. Assuming an average of 8% interest each year, how much do you think you'd earn by the time you retired?

Let's take a look:

Data calculated at investor.gov.

Over the course of 50 years, your $500 will have grown to $23,450.81. That's a nearly 47x increase!

Also, that's with ZERO monthly contributions to your investment. If you invested just $50 / month on top of the principal, you would end up with $367,712.90! Pretty awesome.

ACTION STEP: Invest your holiday bonus for the future

When it comes to investing, there's no better way than investing in a 401k and a Roth IRA. These are the two best accounts to save for retirement as they are tax-advantaged, meaning you can avoid paying certain taxes when you invest into them.

How will you spend your bonus?

Now we want to turn it to you: How are YOU going to spend your holiday bonus? Are you going to be spending it on something you love? Saving it for a rainy day? Or maybe investing it to watch it grow?

Leave your answer in the comments below. We would love to hear your thoughts.

3 meaningful ways to use your holiday bonus is a post from: I Will Teach You To Be Rich.