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mhariebuttler-blog · 5 years

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Find Out Why Flagstone is a Perfect Topper

If you want to add a bit of pop to your landscaping, flagstone can be just what you're looking for. From jazzing up garden walkways to topping off patios, countertops, fireplaces and fire pits, flagstone may be just what you're after.

In this issue, the San Diego landscaping experts with Juniper Landscape Company will talk in-depth about flagstone, its varied uses, and why it's so popular.

What is flagstone?

The name flagstone doesn't refer to a particular type of stone. Rather, it's a method of stone installation. The stone itself is flat and is typically custom-cut into irregularly shaped pieces. The most popular types of rock used for flagstone are limestone, slate, and sandstone.

What are the advantages of using flagstone?

The flexibility of flagstone in just about every aspect of its uses make it highly attractive for property owners looking to provide a bit of personality to their landscaping.

While most flagstone comes in gray, red, brown, and green, it's available in a host of other colors.

Water permeates flagstone rather than running off or puddling on top.

Because it's resistant to acid, flagstone can be laid directly on top of soil or an indoor surface. In other words, there's no need for concrete to be used in association with flagstone.

Because it's resistant to heat, moisture, and heavy foot traffic, flagstone is highly durable and can last for more than 30 years.

The surface of flagstone is non-slip, so the likelihood of falls decreases significantly. This is especially helpful near pool areas.

To learn more about how flagstone can jazz up your home or business, call the Juniper Landscape Company.

Whether you want to use flagstone indoors or in your backyard, we'd love to talk with you about it, help you pick out a design, and handle the installation.

For more information about how our expert team can work with you, call Juniper Landscape Company at 619-334-9464 or you can reach us via email.

The post Find Out Why Flagstone is a Perfect Topper appeared first on Juniper Landscape.

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mhariebuttler-blog · 5 years

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Minimalist Family Home

The interior design of this unique new family home by Moor Design, is focused on minimalism, functionality and modern aesthetics. It features 5 spacious bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and a large 2 car garage on the back of the lot. Efforts have been made to allow the maximum amount of natural light to flow throughout the space and to connect the interior space to the exterior nature spaces that surround the home. The polished interior finishes feature high-end white oak flooring, european cabinetry, large-scale honed marble wall tiles and bespoke lighting. This three level family home in the trendy Fraserhood neighbourhood was constructed by Asanti Homes and won a second place award for Best 'Other Room' by the National Kitchen & Bathroom Association.

Photo Credit: Janis Nicolay

The post Minimalist Family Home appeared first on Decoholic.

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mhariebuttler-blog · 5 years

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Tutorials & Tips Link Party 378

Happy New Year friends and welcome to the first Tutorials & Tips Link Party of 2019! If you're new here, a special welcome to you! The Tutorials & Tips Link Party is a place for bloggers in our niche to link up their best tutorials, tips, crafts, room reveals, furniture makeovers, recipes, etc. Each week, […]

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mhariebuttler-blog · 5 years

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Magic Moisturizer is Here! + Orange-Tahini Mousse

Happy 2019, friends! Hope you've been having an inspiring beginning to the year. Today we're excited to announce that a small batch of our Magic Moisturizer is now available for sale, as per your amazing feedback. You can read all about it here (and get the recipe if you want to make it yourself), but basically, it's been our go-to skincare product for the past few years. It's made with all-natural ingredients that we find to be super nourishing and hydrating for all different types of skin, and it has the most luxurious texture and scent. Click here to go to our shop. Since Magic Moisturizer is like skin food, made with all food-grade ingredients, we were inspired to create a dessert recipe, celebrating two of the star ingredients in the formula: cacao butter and citrus. The result is this dreamy Orange-Tahini Mousse that takes minutes to put together.

The lush ingredients in the Magic Moisturizer are: organic raw cacao butter, organic virgin coconut oil, beeswax, organic olive oil, organic jojoba oil, organic calendula oil, organic vitamin E oil, organic rosehip oil, distilled water, and essential oils of blood orange, Italian lemon, lavender, carrot seed, and clary sage, all of which have balancing, hydrating, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial properties. Our friends love it, and it's been reported to help with cold sores, eczema, and chronically dry skin. We're so excited to share it as a physical offering! Now on to the mousse. To make it, shredded cacao butter, orange juice and zest, tahini, cashews, and maple syrup get whipped into oblivion in a high-speed blender. Distribute that mixture among little cups or ramekins, let it set in the fridge for about an hour, and you'll have the most amazing, cloud-like mousse that tastes like pure heaven. We have people coming over tonight, and I've got a batch cooling in the fridge for a simple but elegant finish to our meal. Seriously can't wait. Hope you enjoy the recipe, and look out for a new meal plan coming next week :)

Orange-Tahini Mousse

Print

Serves: 4

Ingredients

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons orange juice (from about 3 organic oranges)

zest from 1 organic orange, plus more for garnish

½ cup cashews - soaked in purified water for 1-2 hours or in boiling water for 15 minutes

¼ cup maple syrup

5 tablespoons shaved or finely chopped raw cacao butter (leveled, not heaping)

4 tablespoons tahini (leveled, not heaping)

Instructions

Combine all the ingredients, except the orange zest, in a high-speed blender. Blend on high for about 30 seconds to a minute, until completely smooth. Add the orange zest and pulse on low, until just incorporated.

Distribute the mixture between about 4 ramekins or small cups. Refrigerate for an hour, or until completely set and enjoy, garnished with more zest. After the mousse has been refrigerated for a while, remove from the refrigerator about 5 minutes prior to eating.

3.5.3226

Sponsored by Pederson's Farms

Hey there! Neil Dudley, VP of Pederson's Farms, here. I'm so happy that you're joining us for the #JanuaryWhole30. I wanted to pop in and let you know about three ways our team at Pederson's Farms wants to help you stay prepped and eating well through your Whole30.

1 | We're Passionate about Pork

Whether you're currently doing the #JanuaryWhole30 or planning to start one soon, we've created more than 20 Whole30 Approved® pork products to support you. Pederson's products are easy to find … they have the Whole30 Approved logo right on the label and are available online and in stores everywhere.

I don't mean to brag, but we produce some really awesome, responsibly-raised, high-quality pork. Our pork tastes delicious and is raised without the use of antibiotics or growth stimulants, and never fed any animal by-products. Our products are minimally processed with no artificial ingredients, preservatives, nitrates/nitrites, gluten, lactose, or MSG … and wait for it … no sugar! As in “no sugar bacon?” You bet. We're famous for it.

2 | Our Whole30 Meal Prep Box Makes Meal Planning Easy

I know the idea of Whole30 meal planning can be a bit daunting at first. Preparing to prep and cook nearly all of your meals at home means you need to find compliant recipes and compliant proteins to keep you going all month long. That's why we offer our Ultimate Whole30 Meal Prep Box.

This Box was designed give you peace of mind when it comes to finding compliant, high-quality protein. It stocks your freezer with 10 of our most popular Whole30 Approved pork products in one easy order. The pricing works out to about $3.50 per meal … it's hard to beat that deal! Plus, when you purchase a bundle, we'll donate $10.00 towards our ongoing effort to support children with Type 1 Diabetes.

3 | We like tasty Whole30 recipes just as much as you do

In fact, we've created a 7-day Whole30 Meal Prep Guide stuffed with delicious Whole30 recipes. We'll share that for free when you order a Whole30 Meal Prep Bundle. It's full of delicious, satisfying, easy recipes inspired by the phenomenal Whole30 community. Want proof? I'm sharing 3 of my favorites in this blog post … just scroll down!

But first … enter to win a free Whole30 Meal Prep Bundle HERE & we'll give you coupon for $15.00 off

BLT Ranch Salad

(Save or bookmark it here!)

Ingredients

1 pound Pederson's No Sugar Bacon 4 tablespoons Primal Kitchen Ranch Dressing One head iceberg lettuce 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes Coarse salt Cracked pepper

Instructions

PREHEAT oven to 400-degrees. PLACE bacon slices on a baking tray and bake until desired crispiness. Set aside to cool. CHOP a head of iceberg lettuce into quarters and cut the cherry tomatoes into halves,while the bacon cools. When the bacon is cool, chop it into bits or small pieces. PLACE the lettuce wedges cut sides facing up, then sprinkle with bacon bits and tomato halves. DRIZZLE with ranch dressing and add salt and pepper to taste

Italian Sausage Egg Pizza

(Save or bookmark it here!)

Ingredients

1 package of Pederson's Italian Sausage 2 large eggs 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes 1/2 each of green, red, & yellow bell peppers 1/2 small yellow onion Coarse salt Cracked pepper

Instructions

DICE your peppers and onion into 1/8-inch pieces, then set aside. BROWN the Pederson's Italian Sausage in a skillet over medium heat, until fully cooked through. CRACK eggs in a bowl and whisk until combined. HEAT a small nonstick skillet on medium-low heat and add the eggs. Stir gently until small “curds” begin to form. LOWER heat and continue to cook undisturbed until the eggs are cooked through, then carefully transfer to a plate without breaking or folding the egg “crust”. SPRINKLE the eggs with the desired amount of sausage, peppers, and onions. SEASON with salt and pepper to taste.

Deli Ham Sushi Style Bites

(Save or bookmark it here!)

Ingredients

8 slices of Pederson's Farms Black Forest Ham 1 small cucumber 1 avocado, pitted, peeled and sliced into 16 pieces 1 purple onion, sliced into thin strips 1 red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips 1 orange bell pepper, sliced into thin strips

Instructions

LAY a piece of deli meat on work service. ARRANGE a small handful of the veggies (bell peppers, onion, and cucumber) along the bottom third of the deli ham. LAY 2 slices of avocado over top. STARTING from the bottom, roll tightly to enclose the veggies. LAY the roll seam-side down and cut into 6 pieces using toothpicks to hold each “roll” together. REPEAT with the remaining ham and veggies.

Let them Eat Bacon (and Ham, and Sausage…)

There you have it! The Ultimate Whole30 Meal Prep Box from Pederson's Farms is the perfect solution to finding tasty proteins that will make your Whole30 recipes shine. I wish you all of the best with your #JanuaryWhole30.

Grab your $15 coupon HERE.

This post was sponsored by Pederson's Farms. Thank you for supporting our Whole30 partners!

The post Prepping and Preparing: 3 Easy Whole30 Recipes From Pederson's Farms appeared first on The Whole30® Program.

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mhariebuttler-blog · 5 years

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A Dutch Lament: Where oh Where Is PokerStars Located?

In a few weeks I'll be publishing my list of where online gambling sites are located. A question that arose in the Netherlands is in regards to the location of PokerStars, the largest online poker site. An excerpt from my 2018 list shows:

PokerStars Rational Entertainment Enterprises Limited dba PokerStars Douglas Bay Complex, King Edward Rd Onchan, IM3 1DZ Isle of Man

PokerStars.eu Rational Gaming Europe Ltd dba PokerStars.eu Villa Seminia, 8, Sir Temi Zammit Ave Ta'Xbiex, XBX1011, Malta

Why is this a big deal? Taxes.

PokerStars.com is based on the Isle of Man. The Isle of Man is a self-governing British Crown Dependency. It is not part of the European Union. The Isle of Man is located in the Irish Sea. Malta is another island; it's located near Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea. Malta is a member of the European Union. PokerStars.eu is based in Malta. This matters for taxes in the Netherlands. If you're a resident of the Netherlands and you play on PokerStars.com, you owe 29% tax on your winnings; however, if you play on PokerStars.eu, you don't. Needless to say, Dutch residents play on PokerStars.eu.

Except the Dutch Tax Office disagreed. They held that since PokerStars.eu is owned by the Rational Group (the parent of PokerStars), and the Rational Group is based on the Isle of Man, that playing on PokerStars.eu is still playing on a site outside the European Union and 29% tax is owed. A District Court agreed with the Dutch Tax Office. That decision was then appealed to the Court of Appeals in 's-Hertogenbosch.

That court reversed the ruling (link is in Dutch). The ruling, as best as I can determine, states that the place of establishment of the holder of internet poker (here, Malta) is decisive for the classification as domestic or foreign game of chance and, thus, taxation of play on PokerStars.eu violates the Treaty Establishing the European Union. The decision can be appealed to the Supreme Court of the Netherlands but for now, playing on PokerStars.eu is tax-free.

News Story (in English): Dutchnews.nl

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mhariebuttler-blog · 5 years

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Glowing Christmas Lights Night Tour

There's nothing more magical then twinkling Christmas lights and this marks the fourth year of sharing my glowing Christmas lights night tour that positively sparkles. Cozy up by my roaring fire and enter this magical winter wonderland. Don't miss the end of this post where I link to 20 other bloggers who are sharing their […]

The post Glowing Christmas Lights Night Tour appeared first on Kelly Elko.

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mhariebuttler-blog · 5 years

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Why a Bad Drip Sequence Is Worse than No Drip Sequence

We've all been there.

Tempted by that perfect piece of content, we gladly offer up our email addresses, only to regret it later. With each generic, templated email we receive, we're one step closer to hitting the unsubscribe button.

Well, guess what. If you can sniff out a mass email from a mile away - so can your leads. Because the one thing we seem to keep forgetting is that no two subscribers are ever the same, and over-relying on the same played-out drip sequence won't help you win their loyalty.

But what if you could close more deals with less effort by simply using your tech tools more intentionally?

If you're looking for ways to use automation to connect with your leads on a deeper, more human level - keep reading. We've got some proven tips to help you use tech for good.

Real estate drip campaigns are not a cure-all

Before we dive deeper into how to fix your drip campaigns, let's talk a little more about why they're broken in the first place. Because the irony is, we all know we need to nurture our leads. We've heard it a million times.

We've read all about the business owners who make 50% more sales at 33% less cost because of their awesomely warmed-up databases. And the 18X more revenue targeted emails can bring. But these results often feel like they're meant for someone else, someone who has more time, more resources, or both.

So what most of us end up doing is set up an automated drip sequence, and walk away. We feel good about having ticked another box off the “should-do” marketing list, but deep down, we wonder how effective it'll actually be.

Because the truth is, in today's always-on age of chatbots and social media, having a drip campaign for the sake of simply “staying in front of” your prospects no longer makes sense.

Buyers are more empowered than ever before. And though the volume of homes hasn't changed all that much (we're looking at the first major market shift in a decade), the ways in which we sell those homes have changed dramatically.

It's time come out and say it: All this technology is making agents lazy.

To be fair, maybe “overwhelmed” is a better word. But whichever way you cut it, not calling leads, ignoring emails and sending the same generic auto-responder to all prospects just proves most agents don't really understand their leads - and worse, they're not concerned with making themselves truly valuable to their prospects.

Still, the numbers don't lie. 80% of marketing automation users have seen an increase in leads, and 77% have seen the number of conversions increase. The question isn't whether or not you should use technology - obviously, this stuff works.

The real question is this:

How can you use technology to stay one step ahead of the competitors, disruptors and ultra-informed leads who are permanently changing the way homes are bought and sold?

Scrap the generic drip sequence and close more deals

From VR property viewings to transaction management via the blockchain, most agents are afraid of being replaced by technology.

According to Joshua Smith coach, mentor and host of the #1 Most Downloaded Real Estate Agent Podcast, GSD Mode, “There are several things happening in our industry currently. First, we have a market shift that is taking place, but this is nothing new for our industry, just remember: 'There Is No Such Thing as a Bad Market, It Is Always Good for Someone'. As Real Estate Agents, we need to identify who the market is good for and adapt to serve their needs. That's how you thrive in shifts.”

As disruptors continue to shake up even the most tried and true industry best practices, experts like Joshua say that what separates the winning agents from the rest is whether or not you can resist the urge to bury your head in the sand. “We need to take massive action on this as the future role of the real estate agent depends on it,” says Joshua.

Segment your list based on what really matters

Let's imagine a perfect scenario where prospects walk right into your office with a complete profile including details about their knowledge of your brand, level of interest in buying or selling, what type of house they're into, budget, etc. That'd be amazing, right?

But since it's rarely (if ever) the case that you have that much intel, you need to put a real effort into narrowing down your lead segments based on what you do know about them. Then, regroup your sales and marketing efforts to consistently deliver what they want, when they want it.

Most CRMs allow you to get extremely specific, narrowing it down to:

Demographics: Income, Family size, Occupation, Gender, Race, Generation

Geographic aspects: School district, Neighborhood, Employer, City

Psychographic aspects: Pet owners, Lifestyle seekers, Friends/Family in the neighborhood, etc.

In Follow Up Boss, we think a simple approach is best:

Lead type: New leads, buyer leads, seller leads, past clients and of course, hot leads

Lead behavior: Price, lead stage, last activity

No matter which of the hundreds of CRMs you've singled out as the one that'll work for you and your team, it should be flexible enough to adapt to the real-world behaviors of your leads - and your team - so that you're always ready to act anytime a lead takes a big leap forward in their buying journey.

Keep your emails succinct and human

There's something about the 9-Word Email that makes it so effective.

Business owners who use it say the engagement with their leads is higher and that leads convert faster. So next time you're sending out an email, why not try it out?

You could write something simple like, “Are you still interested in housing in South Carolina?” or “Have you seen our new listings in Wrigleyville, Chicago?”

In Follow Up Boss, you can create Smart Lists of segmented leads and send tailored follow up emails your leads will actually reply to. Here's a quick example:

Hey [Lead Name], I've been sending you new listings for a little while now and just wanted to check in to make sure I'm sending the kinds of houses you're interested in. Want me to make some adjustments? Or any you'd like to schedule a showing of?

[Agent Name]

Let's not forget, one of the main reasons consumers love technology is because it's so simple to get a fast, frictionless reply. Make it easy and they won't be able to resist.

Plus, all customers care about the little things. Let's say you've closed a sale - this doesn't mean your work is done.

Show your gratitude by using a personalized drip campaign to send a short “Thank you for trusting us” email, then add your new customer into a past client follow up sequence that includes a mix of direct mail, phone and email correspondence. Trust us, it will make a difference.

Never forget the power of face-to-face interaction

We obviously believe technology is a force for good. But even we have to admit that it comes with a serious downside.

For one, nearly half of the US population is lonely.

No matter how many awesome tech tools are at our disposal, nothing can replace human connection. Successful real estate agents know it's important to truly connect with their leads and clients - on the phone, via video and, not least, in person.

Want more on how to win with video? See how agents like Taylor Hack, Team Leader of HACK&Co use video to build a personal connection with leads.

Leading agents use tools like BombBomb to put a face to their drip campaigns, making it that much easier to stand out above the noise get a face-to-face appointment. In fact, even simply using the word “video” in your subject line can boost open rates by 19% and clickthrough rates by 65%.

This stuff is powerful.

For times when you can't connect in person, sending a quick, personalized thank you video message is the next best thing. And if you want to get even more personal with your leads, check out how real estate agent Kinny Landrum uses BombBomb to send (belated but still awesome) birthday wishes.

Your focus is all you have

With technology taking over industry after industry, it's natural to feel a bit uneasy. But whatever you do, don't waste your time focusing on the wrong things. Because at the end of the day, your focus is the only thing that matters.

It's the one thing you can count on to make sure that every time you pick up the phone, text a reply or hit send on an email, the person on the other side knows you're worth their time. So focus your full attention on the people who are most ready to buy. And do it every day.

For everyone else, take a day or two to step out of the chaos and create a truly relevant drip sequence that delivers value at every step of the journey. Keep them short, sweet and use the tools available to you to show them you're a real person with real insights they can rely on. Automation is here to help you with that. But it can't do it all on its own.

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mhariebuttler-blog · 5 years

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First Friday Feature: A Beautiful Sky Blue Kitchen

Starting the new year fresh off the bat, we thought it would be fitting to feature a kitchen updated and revived with new finishes and a fresh new look. Just like many of us view the new year, we see it as a new beginning, a fresh start so to speak. The same goes for many things in our lives, such as our kitchens! Many times, a kitchen does not need a complete gut, rather more of a cosmetic redo. Which is exactly what we've done here! This particular kitchen already had great bones and beautiful sky blue cabinetry, it just needed some finishing touches to get that make-over look. To learn more, continue reading below!

Countertops

With cabinetry already having a fresh sky blue color, we didn't have to touch the cabinets. However, by lowering the pony wall, and dropping it to cabinet-height, really helped to open up the kitchen. The original countertops were a dark and outdated tile application that needed a redo. So out with the old and in with the new 3 cm Cambria Quartz in Ella. The brightness of the new countertops was a much-needed cosmetic change for this kitchen space to liven up!

Backsplash

The original backsplash was an outdated light-brown 4×4″ square installed in a mixture of straight and diamond lay. The new backsplash was a Daltile Artigiano 3×6 glazed ceramic wall tile in Italian Alps. This tile has a hand-painted look with irregular edges, giving it a hand-made look.

Fixtures and Fittings

To complete this kitchen, a new sink, faucet, and hardware is a must! From Blanco, we have a Diamond super single bowl in a granite composite sink in the color Truffle (441765), and Meridian semi-professional faucet in Satin Nickel (440557). Lastly, the new hardware on the cabinetry are Amerock Blackrock pulls in Satin Nickel (BP55276-G10).

Thanks for stopping by! While you wait for our next feature, check out some of our previous ones here, and here!

The post First Friday Feature: A Beautiful Sky Blue Kitchen appeared first on Kitchen Design Concepts.

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mhariebuttler-blog · 5 years

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Raw raspberry + dark chocolate ice cream bites

Hi! I hope your year has got off to a good start? We're still in full summer-chill-mode around here. Most days I'm still in my pj's nearing lunchtime, unless it's full tide... then we're at the beach. I've also been hanging out in our veggie garden as much as I can, but more on that next week. I'm just stopping in real quick today to share this recipe, which is PERFECT for this time of the year. I shared it over on my Instagram feed at the end of last year, but it's so good I also wanted to share it here so it's easy for everyone to find in years to come. I put a call out on Instagram last week asking what kinds of things you'd like to see on here this year. Last year I sadly barely had time to even think about this space, but I'm going to try my best to change that this year (no promises, but I will try!). I'd love to hear your thoughts below in the comments, let me know the kinds of recipes you like to see, whether you'd like me to start sharing more about our veggie garden or […]

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mhariebuttler-blog · 5 years

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Arnie & Kath's Kitchen

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mhariebuttler-blog · 5 years

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Metallica's Kirk Hammett Shreds $1.1M Off Price of San Francisco Mansion

Steve Jennings/WireImage; realtor.com

Metallica lead guitarist Kirk Hammett has reduced the price of his San Francisco home, shredding it from $13 million to $11.9 million. The home, located in an exclusive enclave by the beach, first came on the market last year.

The San Francisco Bay Area native purchased the gated estate in 2010 for $8 million, according to property records.

Perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Sea Cliff property offers views of China Beach, a picturesque hiking trail above the coast, Lands End, and the Marin Headlands across the water. The spacious home features vintage details, enormous windows, and huge terraces that overlook the beach.

“All three levels have the most magnificent views,” listing agent Mark Levinson says. “It's an unbelievable spot.”

While the home might not be what you'd expect in a metal musician's digs-it totally rocks, trust us.

Vintage details include the curved stairs, sconces, and wood paneling.

realtor.com

Living room with beamed ceiling and huge windows

realtor.com

Master suite

realtor.com

Remodeled kitchen and eating nook

realtor.com

Family room

realtor.com

Terrace overlooking the water

realtor.com

Built in 1926, the 5,200-square foot home has four bedrooms, 4.5 baths, formal living and dining rooms, an updated kitchen with granite counters with a breakfast nook and lounge area, and a large family room with a media center. Best of all? It has an “exquisite” ocean-view terrace, a perfect spot to enjoy the vistas solo or entertain friends when the sun is out.

The family room offers clues of its famous resident, with a guitar on display, as well as some of the rocker's cool collection of horror movie posters.

Another big selling point? Parking in the neighborhood is tight, but this place has a two-car garage.

This is the second home Hammett has put on the market in the past couple of years. He sold a 1922 neoclassical beauty next door for $12.8 million last year.

The home next door initially came on the market in 2016 for $16 million. It was relisted in 2017 for $14 million and topped the realtor.com® most popular homes list. Hammett bought the home in 2005 for $5.7 million, meaning the rocker more than doubled his money on the sale last spring.

A lowered price will likely help move this property as well, so long as the rocker isn't in a rush to get the home off his hands and “fade to black.”

The post Metallica's Kirk Hammett Shreds $1.1M Off Price of San Francisco Mansion appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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mhariebuttler-blog · 5 years

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eSmartTax Review 2019 – High Price For Challenging Tax Software

When it comes to filing taxes, low cost and simplicity are the name of the game. On both fronts, the eSmart Tax software misses the mark in our opinion in 2019.

Based on an extensive review of the eSmart Tax platform and other tax filing services, we are marking pass on eSmart Tax in 2019.

Our biggest concerns with eSmart Tax? It comes with high prices, but we found the software to be difficult and clunky to use. Below you'll see why we don't recommend eSmart Tax this year.

Instead, check out our list of the Best Tax Software Options For Your Situation.

Quick Summary

Self-guided navigation and few import options

Higher pricing than other competitors that may be easier to use

Promo Code for 20% Off: ESTCJ20

Get Started

Quick Navigation

eSmartTax Navigation

eSmartTax Ease Of Use

eSmartTax Knowledge Articles

eSmartTax Pricing And Plans

Final Thoughts On eSmartTax This Year

eSmartTax Navigation

Tax filing software packages tend to come in one of two varieties- self-guided or interview style (the most robust software offers both varieties). eSmart Tax only offers the self-guided option. It has a menu at the top of the screen which offers users options to navigate from income to deductions, etc.

Each menu option brings up a new screen which is essentially a long list of options. Users must read through the list and select the options that pertain to them. Depending on the complexity of your situation, you may end up having to read through long lists on every single menu.

Enter your income using the add button

As with other self-guided tax software options, less experienced filers may miss an important section leading to too high or low of withholdings.

However, eSmart Tax crams a lot of information onto each page which makes increases the likelihood that a user will miss some critical entry.

eSmartTax Ease Of Use

eSmart Tax proved to be one of the more difficult to use software services this year. It's built in “calculators” were not tax specific calculators, but calculators with limited function.

Worse, it was nearly impossible to clear out the calculator if you made a calculation error. The software did do some calculations for the users (such as standard linear depreciation for rental properties). However, these calculations were few and far between. Most of the time, users have to enter their own information.

Combining the navigation with the insufficient calculators makes eSmart Tax difficult to use in our opinion.

eSmartTax Knowledge Articles

Instead of knowledge articles, eSmart Tax has “common questions” with their responses embedded on the right hand side of the screen.

Most of the questions have to do with how to use the software rather than what certain types of tax jargon mean. Overall, the user instruction articles can help you navigate the software (which is important), but the articles don't offer the real insights that filers may need.

eSmartTax Pricing And Plans

eSmart Tax has four pricing tiers. Each tier includes tech support, chat support, and audit assistance. You must purchase “enhanced audit assistance” for $29.99 if you want a Liberty Tax Service professional to provide in person help with an audit.

It's important to note that people who need to file a Schedule C (self-employed business include side hustlers) have to purchase the Deluxe or Premium edition and landlords and investors who bought or sold stock must purchase the top tier Premium edition.

Also, eSmart Tax does NOT offer any truly free filing options - unlike TurboTax, H&R Block, Credit Karma, and others who at least offer a basic free version.

Make sure you use the eSmart Tax promo code ESTCJ20 to get 20% off your tax filing.

Plan

Free

Basic

Deluxe

Premium

Best For

W2 Income Only

Itemizers, people with interest accounts

Self-Employed

Investors, Landlords, Anyone who sold a home

Federal Pricing

$0

$29.95

$39.95

$54.95

State Pricing

$29.95

$36.95

Total Cost

$29.95

$66.90

$76.90

$91.90

Try Free

Final Thoughts On eSmartTax This Year

Sadly, in our opinion, eSmart Tax has premium pricing on an inferior product.

Simply put, it doesn't make sense for anyone to use eSmart Tax to file their returns in 2019. Consider other options such as TurboTax, H&R Block, Tax Slayer or FreeTaxUSA in 2019.

The post eSmartTax Review 2019 – High Price For Challenging Tax Software appeared first on The College Investor.

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mhariebuttler-blog · 5 years

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contentment without conditions & health without strings

During my time off (and even squeezed into the hectic weeks before Christmas), I did a lot of pondering, writing, and planning. I've been reading old notes and taking new ones. I've been thinking about my past successes and times when I was settled into a sweet spot in life and business. I've also been looking at my failures and ... Read More

The post contentment without conditions & health without strings appeared first on Miss Mustard Seed.

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