Wednesday, August 31, 2016

3 Ways to Remove Bathroom Mold

Content originally published and Shared from http://perfectbath.com

Knowing how to get rid of mold in showers, and keep it from returning, can save you both time and money. Here are 3 simple ways to remove bathroom mold.  Read on!

Image Source: Flickr

Image Source: Flickr

Scrub Away
To properly care for your bathroom and remove the mold from tile grout, you will need a good scrub brush and baking soda. To effectively scrub the mold away, treat the grout between tiles and the caulking with a paste made of water and baking soda. Leave on for as long as you need to—for example, very dirty grout can use an hour or two. Spray the tiles with water and use a scrub brush to clean the grout with a brisk back and forth motion. Rinse well and buff dry. Once you have scrubbed the grout, you can prolong your mold-removing efforts so that you do not have to use as much elbow grease next time! If your bathroom is not properly maintained between cleanings, it does not take long for mold to come back. In fact, think of mold prevention like oral care—we have to maintain our teeth to keep plaque away. Source: NaturallySavvy

Vinegar
Put mild white vinegar in a spray bottle without diluting it. Vinegar has a mild acidity, making anywhere you spray it very inhospitable for mold. Do not dilute the vinegar when placing it into the spray bottle; you want to use it at full-strength, not watered-down.
Spray the vinegar onto moldy surfaces and wait for an hour. If possible, let the bathroom air out during this time.
After an hour, wipe the area clean with hot water and dry the surface with a towel. Damp surfaces encourage mold growth, so be sure to wipe the area clean fully. After you have wiped the vinegar away, it should not smell anymore.
Use vinegar to prevent outbreaks of mold before they happen. Vinegar is reported to kill 82% of mold species, making it an exceptionally effective solution for preventing mold from inhabiting your bathroom like it owns the place. Plus, vinegar does not have any toxic fumes (like bleach) and is all-natural.

  • Simply spray a bit of vinegar onto a mold-prone surface and leave it. If you do this regularly, mold will have a tough time growing, and you will not have to remove it in the first place. Source: wikiHow

Hot Water and Baking Soda
You’ll need one teaspoon of washing up liquid, one cup of baking soda, and a few drops of something fragrant (we recommend lavender or citrus oil). Then add water and mix until the solution becomes a viscous paste and you’re done – a natural black mould remover. Source: Cleanipedia

Contact:
Perfect Bath
Phone: Toll Free 1-866-843-1641
Calgary, Alberta
Email: info@perfectbath.com

The post 3 Ways to Remove Bathroom Mold appeared first on Perfect Bath Canada.



from Perfect Bath Canada http://ift.tt/2ca1pPM

Got a Book Idea? These 4 Steps Reveal if it Will Sell

Will my book sell? Makealivingwriting.comHi writers — I’m excited to bring you this guest post from someone brilliant I connected with recently, Dave Chesson. He’s an expert in creating e-books that do well on Amazon. I’ve had a chance to play with his new research tool, KDP Rocket — a powerhouse timesaver that I recommend (and yes, affiliate sell). Check out his tips!–Carol

Do you have a book idea, but aren’t sure whether or not it would succeed in today’s market?

Undecided whether or not that book would be worth all your time and money?

You’re not alone.  Many authors ask this very question.  With Amazon becoming more crowded, some believe that you have to be famous or have a following before succeeding in self-publishing.

But this isn’t true.

No longer do you have to blindly guess at whether or not a book will do well on Amazon.  It turns out, there are vital numbers, analytics, and even some tools that will help any author figure these things out before they decide to write a book.

I like to call this process “Book Idea Validation.”

Book idea validation, a/k/a book market research, doesn’t guarantee sales and success – I’m not talking about a silver bullet. However, it does give you a better understanding of the book market before you dive in.

If you’d like to know more about your potential book market, and give your book a better chance to succeed, then read on.

Crucial components to a good book idea

If you’re a popular writer with a large email list, you could write just about anything, use your platform, and succeed, to a certain degree.

But let’s face it — most of us just aren’t in that situation.

Instead, we need our book to show up in front of the right customers when they’re looking for it online, on a big book site like Amazon.  This is also known as making a book that is organically discoverable.

Therefore, to ensure your book idea has a good chance of being ‘discovered’ naturally by your target audience, you need to verify three things:

  1. Are people actively looking for that book idea?
  2. Are people willing to spend money for that kind of book?
  3. Is there too much competition?

Now, let’s discuss how you do that.

The 4-step book validation process

To properly answer the three questions above, you’ll need to perform four steps.

These four steps may seem a little tedious — however, they are positively a piece of cake compared to writing a complete book that fails epically. Keep that in mind.

Also, if you’re not up to doing the steps below or it feels a little too tedious, there is a self publishing program that will do this for you instantly.

What are these four steps?

Step 1 – Organize your information

We’re going to be looking at a lot of important information as we step through this process. Therefore, it’s best to ensure you’re organized.

If you’d like to save time, download my free Book Idea Validation worksheet. It will have all the necessary headers, equations, and even recommendations.

Step 2 – Research your book idea

Sadly, Amazon doesn’t tell us how many people are searching for something on their platform.  Instead, we are left to assume and guess.

However, there are two ways you can get better data to help you figure out how many people are interested in that idea or phrase:

The first is a free method.  Go to Google’s Keyword Planner and type in your idea or phrase (you’ll need a gmail or other Google-related account). Keyword Planner will check your phrase, give you suggestions, and tell you how many people type that phrase into Google per month.

Sure, Google isn’t Amazon. But they’re both search engines, and again, this is some good data. In my experience, if there is interest for that topic on Google, there’s usually a proportional interest on Amazon as well.

The other method uses my tool, KDP Rocket.  This program not only gives book idea suggestions, it gives you the Google searches per month, estimated Amazon searches per month and tells you how much money that idea is making on Amazon already.

Step 3 – Learn if your idea will make money

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of finding an idea in which there is interest as a result of Step 2. It’s important not to get carried away, though — as we’ve discussed, interest in an idea doesn’t always mean the idea is a moneymaker.

So how do you take things further, and judge whether an idea represents a potentially profitable book?

Follow these steps (which track the numbers on the worksheet):

  1. Search for your idea or phrase from the preceding step in the Kindle store.
  2. Write down the Amazon Best Seller Rank (ABSR) for each of the top 14 books (see the picture below).
  3. Plug each ABSR into my free Kindle Sales calculator tool, which will convert ABSR into books sold per day.
  4. Multiply the number of books sold per day by the sales price to get the gross daily revenue.
  5. Multiply the gross figure by 0.7 (if each book is priced between $2.99 and $9.99) or by 0.3 if it’s sold for any other amount. This gives the actual author earnings after Amazon takes their cut.
  6. Add all the daily author earnings figures together and divide by the number of books you’ve calculated for (e.g divide by 14 for the front page).
  7. This will give you an average daily earnings figure.

The below image shows where to find the Amazon Best Seller Rank (ABSR) for each book –

Amazon Best Sellers

If the number you get in step 7 is an amount you’d be happy to earn, proceed to the next step.  Also, you can compare these numbers between different ideas and see which one seems to be more profitable.

Step 4 – Determine if there’s room for competition

Everyone loves a popular, profitable book idea — including your competitors. If you’ve successfully progressed an idea through the preceding stages, you still have work to do.

It’s kind of like Goldilocks and the porridge. You need to make sure the balance of competition and interest is just right.  Not enough interest probably means very little competition, but also a lack of potential profit. A lot of interest could well result in a lot of competition — which also makes earning money difficult.

The key is to find the golden mean of an idea with enough interest but low enough competition. Here’s what needs to be kept in mind as you look at the competing books:

  • How many results show up in the Kindle store in total for your idea or phrase
  • The ABSR for the top book
  • The average of the ABSR for the top 3 book results
  • The average of the ABSR for the top 14 book results

These numbers show, on average, the competitiveness of a book idea. They can also be used to easily compare one book idea against another, in terms of the competitive landscape.

So far, we’ve only looked at the numbers.  However, there are certain parts that are more qualitative in nature.  So, before making your decision, check the following and use your judgment:

  • Title and Subtitle – Have these been chosen with your idea or phrase in mind? Are they targeting that term or phrase?
  • Book Cover – Are these eyesores, or masterpieces? Books with bad covers are easier to beat.
  • Description – Well-written and engaging, or drab and dreary? As writers, this is one area we stand a great chance of achieving competitive advantage. Also, did they format the description to look good on Amazon?
  • Author Reputation – Good luck going up against Ernest Hemingway or other super-famous authors.

If you want to save all the number-crunching, and your sanity, you can check out KDP Rocket — it does all of the above for you, in a matter of seconds.

Let Amazon tell you what’s popular

Just like I was always told growing up, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again.” Finding a good book idea ISN’T EASY! If it was, we’d all be pretty rich.

After going through all of the steps above, you may want to go back to the drawing board and come up with something totally different, or dig a little deeper into your original idea.

If the latter applies, be sure to look for more niche variations of your idea. One way to do this is by putting your idea into the Amazon search bar, followed by each letter of the alphabet (e.g My Idea a, My Idea b) etc.

In doing this, Amazon’s autocomplete will show you the most searched for phrases related to your seed idea. Here’s an example:

Amazon Searched phrases

This is one way to get more specific and find more niche ideas to pursue.  Also, look at the list of suggestions that Google’s Keyword Planner gives you as well.  Both are great resources to get the creative juices flowing.

Beyond book idea validation

Now you know how to give your book idea the best chance of success before you take the time to write it. But does it really work?

Starting from ground-zero using a pen name (meaning I didn’t use fame, email lists, or any existing marketing platform), I’ve generated almost $100,000 in revenue from just six books in 2.5 years, using the processed I’ve outlined.
Book sales

If you want this to happen with your book, follow the process to validate your idea. Then you can get to the best part — the actual writing.

Imagine how much better it will be to write with the peace of mind that you stand a good chance of making money, when it’s done.

If fear has been holding you back from making the leap and writing a book, hopefully this process will make things a little easier for you.

Got an idea for a book? Let’s talk about it in the comments.

Dave Chesson writes at the advanced book marketing website Kindlepreneur, and created KDP Rocket. When he’s not writing, he’s drinking tea with his princesses or chasing the boogey-man out of closets.

The post Got a Book Idea? These 4 Steps Reveal if it Will Sell appeared first on Make A Living Writing.



from Make A Living Writing http://ift.tt/2bRCliP

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Challenge #209 - CAS

Welcome back to Wednesday which marks a new challenge here at ATSM. Thanks so much for joining us each week.

I am so happy to see that we have now reached over 800 followers! Welcome to all our new supporters :)

This week we are up to our


challenge. This means we need lots of white space and minimal embellisments. 

Our wonderful sponsor for this challenge is


QKR Stampede and Eureka Stamps was purchased by Stamp On It in 2013 from the state of Colorado and moved to its new home in Michigan! We(Stamp On It) had its humble beginnings over 25 years ago and is now a mobile(on-the-road) family owned and operated business. We travel coast to coast and attend as a vendor over 25 retail stamping and scrapping shows each year. 

Prize: 3 digital images


Here we go with our inspiration for you -

(using sponsor image - Ribbon and Stars Border)















Amazing examples from the design team! We can't wait to see what you come up with.




from Addicted to Stamps and More! http://ift.tt/2bH9MTo

Saturday, August 27, 2016

Winners - #207 Make Your Mark

Time to announce our winners from our last challenge (#207 Make Your Mark). We LOVE your participation and support of ATSM. The amazing entries we get in our gallery each week really makes it hard to choose our winners. But choose we must :)

On to our winners - 

Our 

HONOURABLE ADDICTS











Congratulations to you all. Please grab your badge to display on your blog. 

Our 

TOP ADDICT


and the winner of the prize from


is


#18 Julia Altermann

Card by Julia Altermann. Digi image by Sassy Cheryl's. Dies and sequins by Pretty Pink Posh. Coloring with Copics: Plane: RV99, R59, R29, R27, R24, R05. Hat: E29, E37, YR27, YR24. Scarf: YR27, YR16, Y38, Y17, Y15. Metal: Shinhan Twin Touch Brush Markers BG9, BG7, BG5, BG3, BG1. Bear: W4, E40.

Congratulations Julia, please take your Winners Badge to post on your blog. 



Don't forget to claim your prize you must contact me  at kyliepurtell@gmail.com within 5 days. 


Our current challenge is



Hope to see you in our gallery this week.


from Addicted to Stamps and More! http://ift.tt/2bHF9MF

Friday, August 26, 2016

Digital revolution stimulates change in shopper marketing

Shopper marketing has undergone a metamorphosis since the advent of digital marketing, evolving into an omnichannel approach designed to reach shoppers at all touchpoints.

ChangesThose are among the key findings of new research from the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), conducted in partnership with market research firm GfK. The report came in the wake of an ANA/PQ Media U.S. Brand Activation Marketing Forecast report, which said that between now and 2020, investment in shopper marketing is expected to increase 5.8 percent to $18.6 billion, outperforming the growth of total brand marketing spend.

“Shopper marketers are struggling to reach consumers across the right touchpoints at the right time,” said ANA President and CEO Bob Liodice. “Our research shows that the new goal of shopper marketing campaigns is to make brick-and-mortar visits mirror the effectiveness of the online environment while delivering a seamless shopper experience.”

Liodice added that, as a discipline, shopper marketing is subject to many misconceptions.

“There is little consistency in how it is defined and what the best practices should be,” said Liodice. “We conducted research to help bring clarity to the current state of the category and make predictions about where it’s headed. We also aimed to uncover the role shopper marketers play within their organizations, and the strategies needed for shopper marketing success.”

In a key finding, the study confirmed that mobile has become an important component of shopper marketing campaigns, attempting to engage people in-store and extend a connection post-visit. Mobile is being furthered leveraged pre-visit with geolocation, targeted mobile marketing and promotional apps.

Report findings

The report disclosed information about the state of shopper marketing and its current place in the overall marketing mix:

  • Shopper marketing has progressed from driving short-term sales to motivating shopper behavior. While the primary role of shopper marketing has always been to convert shoppers, it now has to deliver a combination of short- and long-term benefits, including driving conversion among shoppers, motivating shopper behavior through levers beyond price and executing solutions to shopper challenges and purchase barriers.
  • A dedicated shopper marketing team is more likely to be viewed as a competitive advantage today than it was in the past. Among respondents in organizations with a dedicated shopper marketing team, 51 percent indicated that shopper marketing was a competitive advantage and 55 percent said shopper marketing reflected the convergence of brands, shoppers and retailers.
  • When shopper marketing reports to marketing, it is likely to be more strategic and more highly valued within the organization. The discipline began to change as shopper marketers became more strategic and began leveraging shopper insights. When shopper marketing began reporting directly to marketing rather than to sales or other departments, it created a greater opportunity for integration. For example, the focus of shopper marketing shifted from the retailer to the shopper, and the percentage of marketers who felt that shopper marketing was a strategic initiative in their companies increased.
  • Shopper insights are underfunded in many organizations. Shopper insights can drive program development but only 40 percent of respondents believed their organizations were adequately investing in shopper insights.

 

Methodology

The study was conducted in April 2016 in partnership with GfK and represents responses from 185 marketers. Of those, 55 percent primarily work in B2C companies, 25 percent primarily work in B2B companies and 20 percent work in companies that are both B2B and B2C. The participants had an average of 12 years working in marketing/advertising and approximately 40 percent were directors or above.

 



from Quirks Marketing Research Review Blog http://ift.tt/2bwc343

Thursday, August 25, 2016

An Open Letter to ESL Writers

ATTN: ESL Writers. Makealivingwriting.comThis is a hard letter to write. But I get letters from you every day, ESL writer, and I feel you deserve an answer.

You email me or hit me on Facebook, from Pakistan, or Kenya, or other points around the globe.

You’re not the rare ESL writer who’s impressively fluent, and whom I only learn from in-depth conversation wasn’t born speaking English.

No, you’re a writer who seems to think you’re fluent in English, but you aren’t. Not even close.

Despite your shaky grasp of English, you’ve fixed on the idea that freelance writing for English-speaking clients is the career for you. And you’re writing me because you want me to help you get paid writing gigs.

I’ve been working to spread hope to writers about the opportunities to earn from their craft for 8 years now. But I’m afraid today, I’m the bearer of bad news.

You probably don’t have the skills to earn a living writing in English. And I want you to encourage you to stop banging your head against this brick wall before you starve.

Everyone can’t write for pay

It seems to be a popular notion that freelance writing is a wide-open field that anyone can succeed in, no matter how poor their written language skills.

At this point, I typically receive a couple of messages each day like these:

Screen Shot 2016-08-18 at 7.24.30 AM

Or this:

Screen Shot 2016-08-18 at 7.25.26 AM

And on Facebook, this:

Facebook message from ESL writer

It would be great if I had a fairy wand, and I could wave it and change the freelance marketplace so that people like these could earn a good living writing in English…but sadly, I lack those magical powers.

And paid freelance writing is for writers who are beyond competent in the language they’re writing in — they’re exceptional.

How the confusion started

In any other profession, if you’re weak in a particular skill, you would never imagine you could build your living around it. You wouldn’t think you could be an accountant if you were a D student in math, right?

But in writing, the myth persists that marginal English can somehow be turned into a decent income.

This myth arose because once — for a brief time in the beginning of Internet marketing, circa 2005-6 or so — it was true.

You could write semi-literate, SEO keyword-stuffed content for lowball websites, and they’d pay you a tiny bit. There were tons of assignments like this. If you could spin these out fast enough, it added up to at least a bare-bones living, especially in places where the cost of living is low.

But that’s long over now. This implosion in the junk-content marketplace has left ESL writers like you scrambling to find gigs. Expect there to be fewer and fewer opportunities in the future. There just isn’t a living in this anymore.

How to improve your odds as an ESL writer

Fortunately, it’s not all bad news. There are still a few ways you can earn a good living online, with limited English. I’ve gone into these earning strategies in detail before, but here’s a quick summary of my tips:

  • Write in your native language — businesses there need writers, too.
  • Write for local editions of U.S. pubs — they’ll use native writers here, and be more forgiving about English flubs.
  • Hire a translator or editor — I know writers doing well this way.
  • Team up with a designer or coder who has better English skills.
  • Move into another field — say, coding, design, or photography, where the primary skill you’re offering isn’t English fluency.

Of course, there’s one more move you could make that might change your situation:

Improve your English

The denial I’ve seen from many illiterate writers about how poor their skills are is truly impressive. But if you want to earn, you’ll need to accept that you aren’t fluent — and take steps to fix the problem.

Take an English course, read books on English grammar. I know, it’s a devilishly difficult language — that’s why so many websites exclude non-native writers, because they know it’s unlikely you’ll be able to write publishable English that would help their business grow.

Realize the marketplace has changed

More than anything, I’d like ESL writers like you, who lack strong English skills, to realize that the opportunity that once existed for you in online writing is gone. Please, don’t end up living on the street by wasting time grasping for the tiny, final crumbs of article-mill work that remain!

Even content mills that used to assign hundreds of articles a day, such as Demand Media, are now down to paying just a handful of experienced, American writers good money for more sophisticated content — and many pennies-per-click sites such as Examiner have closed their doors.

It’s time to be realistic

Listening to the pleas of desperate people, all over the world, is a part of being a popular blogger that I never counted on. As an advocate for writers and for fair writer pay, it’s humbling to have to confront the fact that I can’t help everybody.

You may be a terrific writer in your native language, but as it stands, there simply is no English-language market for your services.

I won’t give you false hope about this. You likely need another type of job. Trying to be a freelance writer in a language you haven’t mastered is not going to solve your financial problems.

You are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope you’re able to find another type of work, online or off, that will sustain you.

What are the best options for ESL writers who lack strong English skills? Let’s discuss in the comments.

 

The post An Open Letter to ESL Writers appeared first on Make A Living Writing.



from Make A Living Writing http://ift.tt/2bRjHXg

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

3 Tips for Installing Carpet

Most homeowners leave the floor preparation and carpet installation to the professionals. However, there are several things you can do to make sure the process goes smoothly.

Below are 3 tips for installing carpet:

Preparing for Installation

So you have gotten all your questions resolved and scheduled your installation. Following are a few things you should do to prepare for installation day:

  • Complete all remodeling projects in the room being covered, including sanding, painting, wallpapering, etc.
  • Remove all breakable items such as lamps, mirrors, pictures, and collectibles and other items from tables and bookshelves.
  • Remove any light furniture such as chairs or end tables.
  • Disconnect any electronics in the room, including appliances, TVs, stereos, computers, etc.
  • If possible, check the subfloor to ensure there is no damage that could impact installation.
  • Clear a path that allows enough room for installers to unload carpet and carry it to the installation site. Source: WFCA

 

During Installation

Your professional installers will arrive with the knowledge, tools, and supplies to lay your new carpet. They‘ll need access to electrical power outlets and an area to store their electrical tools, so be prepared to help them set up.

After the old flooring and carpet cushion have been pulled up, vacuum the subfloor before the new carpet is installed to minimize dirt and dust. Keep in mind that your new floor coverings need to be installed over a structurally sound subfloor. Any damage from insects, water, or other problems should be repaired prior to carpet installation. Source: MohawkFlooring

 

After Installation

  • Thoroughly inspect the flooring once the installation has been completed and bring any concerns to their attention immediately.
  • Hinged doors may require trimming for proper clearance once your new flooring is installed.
  • Your installation may require touch-up to walls, moldings and baseboards.
  • Every installation has material waste. These leftover pieces are most common in irregular shaped rooms or when stairs and halls are recovered.
  • The installation crew will remove all waste pertaining to the installation of your new flooring. It is the customer’s responsibility to clean the flooring after installation.
  • Allow proper ventilation for 72 hours after your flooring installation by utilizing fans.

While your new carpet is of the highest quality, it is still subject to everyday wear. Here are tried and tested ways of correcting common carpet conditions.

Sprouting If loose ends or “sprouts” extend above the rest of the pile, trim them off evenly with the pile surface.

Pile Crushing All carpet fibers will crush under heavy, stationary loads. Crushing can be reduced by shifting furniture regularly.

Shading After certain carpet styles have been subjected to traffic, you may notice areas that appear lighter or darker than other areas.

Pile Distortion/Roll Crush When carpet is manufactured, inspected, handled and shipped, it is rolled and unrolled many times. Source: AbbeyCarpet

The post 3 Tips for Installing Carpet appeared first on Curlys Carpet Repair.



from Curlys Carpet Repair http://ift.tt/2bLWjcc

3 Tips for Choosing Kitchen Curtains

Framing your kitchen windows with the right window treatment makes a big difference in the look and feel of your kitchen. Here are some tips that will guide you in choosing the perfect curtains for your kitchen.

Image Source: Flickr

Image Source: Flickr

Below are 3 tips for choosing kitchen curtains:

Colour and Fabric
Fabric is an essential part of choosing curtains, since the material will dictate how well your curtains function and hold up over time. “If they’re too heavy, they may not fold crisply when drawn; too light and they may not fall well,” says designer Suysel DePedro Cunningham of Tilton Fenwick.
Lana Lawrence, who is vice president of Anthony Lawrence-Belfair curtain fabricators and who works with designers like Alexa Hampton and Katie Ridder, suggests holding fabrics up to a window, even in a fabric showroom. “Pleat it like an accordion at the top and let it drape,” she says. “If it starts to flare like a piece of crinoline, then it’s not going to fall nicely on the window.” Work with a big sample, at least 2 yards, since a smaller piece may not show the fabric’s true drape.
Linen, silk, faux silk, and velvet are best choices to use for window treatments since they tend to hang the best, says Guercio. “Faux silk tends to be the most durable,” she says. And in a particularly sunny room, faux silk doesn’t deteriorate as quickly as real silk.
Some fabrics can help keep out the cold. Many hotels use suede, velvet, tapestry, or tweed since their weight helps block light and keep heat in. Still, nearly any fabric can be interlined with bump, a thick, insulating felt material. And interlining—a piece of fabric slipped between the lining and the face fabric—can also help prolong the life of the curtains. “If silk is unlined, it will rot,” says Lawrence. Adds Cunningham: “Lining and interlining are what give curtains their body and fullness.” Source: ElleDecor

Pattern
When it comes to your curtains’ patterns, once again, it depends on your vision of what feel you want to give your kitchen. Everything is possible:

  • United
  • Stripes (equal or asymmetrical)
  • Flowery (jacquard weaving, embroidery, etc.)
  • Geometric shapes

You have a wide range of options on the market with suppliers of fabrics and curtains that can give you the desired final touch for your kitchen, whether modern, artistic or retro. Source: GroomedHome

Length and Lining
Floor-length curtains are the best option when your kitchen has large windows or ones that have odd shapes. Here are several solutions for fitting curtains on large windows.
As a practical advice, no matter the size or the shape of your kitchen windows, a simple, informal style always fits in well.
Take a good look to the other elements of your kitchen when buying the curtains. No matter if you go for the modern, classic or country look, choose the fabric and colors for curtains that go with the cabinets, for instance.
Most kitchen curtains are sill length. This is practical and doesn’t overwhelm the kitchen, and suits most small to medium-sized kitchens, minus the really big ones.
When it comes to curtains, it’s always important to remember one thing: measure right, twice even. You can’t go for the „too short” or „too long” just as you can’t go long or short on a pair of trousers, for instance. „Too rich”, that’s the only thing you can overdo. Anytime. Source: VeryCozyHome

Contact:
Universal Blinds
601 – 1550 W. 10th Ave
Vancouver, V6J 1Z9
Canada
Phone: (604) 559-1988

The post 3 Tips for Choosing Kitchen Curtains appeared first on Universal Blinds, Shades & Shutters.



from Universal Blinds, Shades & Shutters http://ift.tt/2bgPP8W

Challenge #208 Holiday

Welcome back to Addicted to Stamps and More! We had over 100 entries for our last challenge - thank you for your support! Tune back in on Friday around 8pm (AEST) for the winners.

This week we are up to our


Create anything you like as long as it has a Holiday theme. It's probably a good idea to even start on your Christmas cards if you haven't already done so :)

Our wonderful sponsor this week is -


Happy Little Stampers was created in 2015 by Kylie (owner of ATSM and ATCAS). Kylie wanted to bring out a line of stamps that were useful for every day crafters. From cute to whimsical images, from everyday to funky sentiments there is something for everyone!

Prize: $15 gift certificate

Here is our inspiration to get you started -



















Wow! Wonderful examples from this fabulous DT!

Over to you now - we can't wait to see what you create :)





from Addicted to Stamps and More! http://ift.tt/2bLkVSq

Monday, August 22, 2016

The 10 Personality Traits Freelance Writers Need for Success

Top personality traits of freelance writers. Makealivingwriting.comAfter over 15 years as a freelance writer, and many more years writing for a living as a staffer, I’ve concluded that I’m weird.

Seriously!

There are things other people hate that I strangely seem to like.

I’m kind of addicted to taking on seemingly impossible assignments, for instance.

That got me thinking about what it takes to be a freelance writer, personality-wise.

I asked my audience on this blog’s Facebook page, too, and got an earful.

If you’re wondering if you could make it as a freelance writer, consider whether you’ve got these 10 useful personality traits for successful freelancing:

  1. Self-discipline. Some people will sit down, all by themselves, in their own home, without a boss standing over them, and work all day writing an article to meet a deadline. But they are few. Most people, left to their own devices, will binge-watch all of Game of Thrones, go for walks, fold laundry, visit the post office…anything but write. The rest of these traits you may be able to fake it a ways without, but this one is a must-have.
  2. Love of learning. If you love to learn new, arcane stuff, it’s a big plus. From learning how to use Twitter or how to write a great query to researching odd topics, your love of learning will serve you well. Personally, one of my most lucrative recent projects involved advanced washing machine technology. And honestly, I found it fascinating. Yes, I know I should be embarrassed by that. But — new stuff I didn’t know! Brain…wants…more.
  3. Inner confidence. Your feeling that your writing skill has value shouldn’t depend on an editor’s compliment, or a lucrative assignment. It should come from within, and be unaffected by outside input. I meet too many writers who tell me they can’t charge much now, because they won’t feel confident enough to do that until they get some paid writing where editors give them good feedback. No, no, no. Don’t give the power to make you believe in yourself to anyone else.
  4. Persistence. You gotta be committed to sticking with this, or you’ll have one dry spell, and give up and take a day job.
  5. Curiosity. Burning to know what happens next? What happened behind the scenes? What’s happened that nobody else has figured out yet? This will help you generate loads of story ideas, and drive you to ask prospects all the questions you need answered to create a stellar first draft.
  6. Boldness. Yes, like in Star Trek! Fortune favors the brave in freelance writing. If you’re willing to do things like accost customers in store aisles to ask how they like the shopping experience, pepper top CEOs with uncomfortable questions, or take a flier on writing a query to a big magazine, you’re going to have more work. I get questions every day from writers too shy to speak on the phone to people, much less do interviews in person, about whether they can succeed at freelance writing. I’d say it’s a long shot.
  7. A passion for self-improvement. Freelance writers move up and earn more by striving for continuous improvement in their writing craft. Always asking editors what you could change to create a cleaner first draft in future? Good, because that is the #1 way good writers develop into great writers.
  8. Good listener. The majority of what I do is listen carefully to what clients tell me. Then, I execute on that, and never have to do rewrites.
  9. Openness. Good freelance writers are egoless. They stay open to client input and are willing to work collaboratively with editors to create the writing that best serves the reader. If you are deeply attached to your precious, perfect first draft and don’t want to hear how it could be improved, you’ll have a tough time.
  10. Inner calm. It’s easier to keep it professional and deal with difficult clients when you’ve got this trait in your arsenal. Remember…your client’s immature behavior is not about you.

I usually like to be all upbeat and positive, and always want to encourage writers to get out there and do it. But if you’re an undisciplined, incurious prima donna who’s quick to snap at people, the freelance writing life may not be for you.

The good news is, you can cultivate the traits that make for freelance writing success. My recommendation is to pick one trait a week and focus on it, thinking and journaling about ways you could develop more of that quality.

What traits do you think make for a successful freelance writer? Add your ideas in the comments.

Get a free e-book (100+ Freelance Writing Questions Answered by Carol Tice) and free updates! Sign me up!

The post The 10 Personality Traits Freelance Writers Need for Success appeared first on Make A Living Writing.



from Make A Living Writing http://ift.tt/2bITPNi

Friday, August 19, 2016

Winners - #206 Anything Goes

Time to announce our winners from our last challenge (#206 Anything Goes). We had some wonderful entries which makes it so hard to choose our winners! We LOVE your participation and support of ATSM. 

On to our winners - 

Our 

HONOURABLE ADDICTS


20160811_070655






Congratulations to you all. Please grab your badge to display on your blog. 

Our 

TOP ADDICT

and the winner of the prize from


is



Congratulations Toni, please take your Winners Badge to post on your blog. 


Don't forget to claim your prize you must contact Kylie  at kyliepurtell@gmail.com within 5 days. 

Our latest challenge is


Hope to see you  in our gallery this week.



from Addicted to Stamps and More! http://ift.tt/2b2J7D4

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

3 Ways to Unclog a Slow Running Bathroom Sink Drain

Content originally published and Shared from http://perfectbath.com

A sink that takes a little longer to drain can be a sign that you may soon be facing a clogged drain. Luckily, we’ll share 3 ways to unclog a slow running bathroom sink drain, including: using natural solvents, using a plunger and snaking the pipes.

Image Source: Flickr

Image Source: Flickr

Using Natural Solvents
A clogged or slow-draining bathroom sink is a common problem in most homes. It shouldn’t happen too often, but when it does, use this natural formula to remove all the gunk (believe me, you don’t want a list of what that “gunk” actually is!) and get that drain in tip top shape.

What You Need

Materials:

  • 1/2 cup Baking soda
  • 1/2 cup Vinegar
  • Lemon juice (optional)
  • Measuring cups
  1. Remove the drain cover. Most drain covers thread into the drain, so try unscrewing it by turning it to the left.
  2. Measure out a 1/2 cup of baking soda.
  3. Dump as much of the baking soda as you can down the drain.
  4. Measure out a 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar and pour it down the drain over the baking soda.
  5. The mixture will bubble and fizz (like the volcano experiment when you were in grade school!) and eat away anything that is clogging the drain. If you notice any unpleasant smells, squeeze a little lemon juice down after you’ve rinsed any remaining baking soda and vinegar away. Source: ApartmentTherapy

Using a Plunger

  1. Make sure there is standing water – if there isn’t already standing water, fill the basin with two or three inches of water.
  2. Create a vacuum – air vents and adjoining drains should be sealed. It is necessary to create a vacuum so the water in the drain can force the clog to move down the pipe.
  3. Cover drain with the plunger suction cup– place the suction cup of the plunger directly over the drain making sure to cover it completely.
  4. Push & Pull – use both hands to apply as much force as possible to the suctioning. Pulling is just as important as pushing. The key is to get the clog moving; the direction isn’t important. Source: About

Snaking the Pipes

  1. Get your materials ready.This method is for those stubborn clogs and therefore requires more materials, including a bucket, screwdriver or wrench, and plumber’s snake (also called a drain snake).
  2. Place the bucket underneath your sink.You want to position the bucket underneath the P-trap, that is, the curved part of pipe that leads directly from the drain.
  3. Check to see what is holding your P-trap together.Some are held together with screws, in which case you need a screwdriver, while others have slip nuts on both ends of the pipe, in which case you will need a wrench.
  4. Remove the P-trap. Do this step slowly and make sure the bucket is still positioned directly beneath you. Standing water as well as the small pipes inside of the P-trap may spill out and you want the bucket to catch them.
  5. Find the clog.First check the P-trap. If you can see the blockage, use your fingers, coat hanger, or the plumber’s snake to force it out.
  6. Reattach the P-trap. Use either the screwdriver or wrench and turn the screws or nuts clockwise to tighten them.
  7. Turn on the sink.The water should drain at its normal speed if the clog has been effectively removed. Source:  wikiHow

Contact:
Perfect Bath
Phone: Toll Free 1-866-843-1641
Calgary, Alberta
Email: info@perfectbath.com

The post 3 Ways to Unclog a Slow Running Bathroom Sink Drain appeared first on Perfect Bath Canada.



from Perfect Bath Canada http://ift.tt/2boXPUB