Questions to Ask Yourself When Designing a New Kitchen
Planning a new kitchen is not only stressful when it comes to setting up a budget, but also when it comes to the design aspect! And Pinterest just makes matters worse! There are so many beautiful, yet different kitchens and styles out there right now- what if you like all of them?! How do you know what the best choices are for you and your family? 
The whole decision making process will no doubt leave you feeling like you're drinking from a firehose, but if you start by determining what your kitchen priorities and goals are, you'll be so much better off! Check out these two kitchen questionnaires by HGTV- they are a great starting point and ask questions you might not have even considered!
A Day In The Life Of Your Kitchen
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Trend Alert: Black Windows
When it comes to windows, the biggest trend we are seeing in 2018 is the color black! Have you noticed? Black window frames, both on the interior and exterior of homes, are everywhere! This is a dramatic look that you probably either love, or hate. I really appreciate the beautiful contrast of black windows with fresh, white paint. Whether your home is super traditional, or contemporary, black windows are clean, sophisticated, and really energize a space! If you aren't sold yet, take a look at these photos below and you'll be hooked!
via pinterest
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studio mcgee via pinterest
luxe via pinterest
amber interiors via pinterest
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via pinterest
via pinterest
What do you think?
Would you install black windows in your home?
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Simple Bedroom Ideas
Your bedroom is definitely one of the most important places in your home. I think we can all agree that the difference in your day after a good night’s sleep and a bad night’s sleep is pretty clear. Keep things simple in your bedroom and create a place you’ll want to spend your time and where you’ll sleep like a baby.
Simple Bedroom Ideas
Your bedroom is definitely one of the most important places in your home. I think we can all agree that the difference in your day after a good night’s sleep and a bad night’s sleep is pretty clear. Keep things simple in your bedroom and create a place you’ll want to spend your time and where you’ll sleep like a baby.
Keep things simple by keeping your colors bright and white. Your room will feel bigger, cleaner, and fresher, as well as avoid becoming too busy. If you’re looking for a white paint color that is a little warmer than a stark white wall, my favorite paint color is White Dove by Benjamin Moore.
via Ramshackle Glam
Avoid bringing bulky furniture into your room - especially if your bedroom is small. Simple furniture and bed frames keep your room more spacious and open.
via Home Bunch
Make your space feel a lot bigger and lighter by bringing in mirrors. Position your mirror so that it will reflect the light from a window and bring even more natural light into your bedroom. Body length leaner mirrors are both practical and good-looking, so think about something like this black and silver leaner mirror.
Keep things simple by using a monochromatic color scheme, but don’t let your room feel boring. Use a variety of textures and shapes to give depth and interest to your room.
What simple bedroom ideas do you have?
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How To Set a Budget for Your Kitchen Remodel
Renovating a kitchen is no simple task. If you're in the market to remodel, the first thing you want to do is probably cruise around pinterest and houzz for inspiration, but before you start spending money or hammering through walls, make sure you take time to secure and plan out your budget. THIS IS SO CRUCIAL! Once you pick an overall kitchen reno budget, it's equally as important to go through and allocate every dollar that will be spent into a specific sub category. It's a lot of work in the beginning, but it can help save you a lot of stress (and save you $$) down the road. The last thing you want to do is blow your entire budget on cabinets and then realize you have no money left for floors, countertops, or lighting!
The National Kitchen and Bath Association has broken down average kitchen remodeling costs into the percentages listed below. This can help you get an idea of what costs to expect when renovating, and also how to properly allocate your budget! You might have priorities for your kitchen that alter your budget allocations from this one, but it's a great starting point!
Allison Williams via Pinterest
| Kitchen Remodeling Budget | |
| Cabinetry & Hardware | 29% |
| Installation | 17% |
| Appliances & Ventilation | 14% |
| Countertops | 10% |
| Flooring | 7% |
| Walls & Ceilings | 5% |
| Lighting | 5% |
| Design Fees | 4% |
| Doors & Windows | 4% |
| Faucets & Plumbing | 4% |
| Other | 1% |
Here is a great worksheet to help you keep track of your budget!
Have you remodeled your kitchen? Do you find this breakdown to be pretty consistent with your experience?
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Activities for Toddlers
As a mom of a young toddler, it can be hard to find ways to fill a day. Like the old saying goes, the years go fast but the days go slow! I’m always on the lookout for fun, easy activities to do with my daughter, and I thought I’d share some activities for toddlers below.
If you don't mind a little bit of a mess, make mud prints in your backyard!
Make a sensory bag with things you've found around your home.
Play sink or float with a tub of water and anything you find around your house!
via Busy Toddler
A quick, easy activity to keep your toddler busy - make a pom pom push!
With a pair of tongs and some small toys from around your house, work on hand-eye coordination by setting up a fishing pond.
via Teaching Mama
Make a little car wash and clean up your toys!
What fun activities do you do with your toddlers?
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How to Establish Credit
Knowing how to establish credit and build a strong credit score is vital to becoming financially free and secure. I grew up so afraid of debt that I avoided anything that even looked like a credit card as much as possible, but when it came time to get a loan to buy my first house, I was in trouble. I had essentially no credit, which meant getting a good loan was difficult. After working with my bank and doing a little research, I was able to establish some credit and easily build up my credit score. If you’re looking to start building credit or repair damaged credit, there are some easy things you can start doing today.
How to Establish Credit
CREDIT CARDS
Start by opening a credit card. Do some research to see how high the interest rates are and whether or not there are annual fees before signing on. If you’re nervous about having a credit card for the first time, you can start with a secured card. These cards work the same way as a regular credit card - monthly payments with interest if you don’t pay it off in full - but with the added protection of a cash deposit that serves as collateral if you miss a payment. Secured cards are not a long-term fix but rather a way to get started building your credit.
BECOME AN AUTHORIZED USER
Another way to start establishing credit is by using your parents or a trusted friend and having them make you an authorized user on one of their credit cards. Being an authorized user on someone else’s credit card means you will get your own card but you are not legally responsible to pay the bill. This can make it a risky choice for whoever is allowing you onto their credit card, so unless you’re both completely comfortable, it may not be the best way to go about establishing your credit.
COSIGN ON A LOAN
If you’re in need for a loan but don’t have the credit to make it happen yet, find a trusted friend or family member who will cosign a loan with you. If the cosigner has good credit, you’re much more likely to be eligible for a loan with a lower interest rate. You’ll both be responsible for paying this debt, but again it could be a risky choice for the cosigner. If you default on the loan or stop paying, you could hurt their credit score as well.
OTHER IDEAS
When a credit card still sounds scary or you’re worried about spending more than you can pay, there are other ways to establish your credit. Paying your student or auto loans on time, making your monthly mortgage payments, paying bills when they’re due, etc. are all ways to show you’re responsible with money.
In fact, RC Willey can help you establish and build credit as well. If you apply for RC Willey credit you’ll be able to set up payment plans that will build up your credit each time you make an on time payment. This is actually one of the ways I was able to establish credit, so I can say from experience that if you are responsible and stick to your budget, you’ll be able to build up your credit score while furnishing your home. Read here for more information about the different payment plans available.
Don’t forget that you are responsible for your credit score. Don’t spend more than you can afford, make your payments on time, and keep a low debt to income ratio and you’ll be well on your way to a great credit score!
How have you established credit?
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How to Plan a Vacation
Honestly, for me planning a vacation is almost as fun as actually going on the trip. I love pouring over guidebooks, itineraries, hotel options, free things to do and recommended restaurants. Obviously, I recognize that this is not for everyone. Before we were married and I took over vacation planning, my husband would just show up somewhere and figure everything out - including where he was going to stay - once he was there. I can’t even handle the stress that causes me just thinking about it!
If you’re wanting to go on a trip this year and are looking for tips on how to plan a vacation, I’ve gathered some helpful tips below.
How to Plan a Vacation
Once you’ve figured out where you are going to go and how long you can be away, it’s time to determine your budget. This will impact where you stay, the activities you’ll do, and what you eat. If you have thought out your budget beforehand and planned accordingly, you won’t be stressed throughout your trip overthinking how much you’re spending.
Next, you need to decide how you are going to get to your destination. Spend the time to map out the difference of cost between driving and flying. Sometimes flying may seem like the more expensive option, but it can actually be cheaper than gas money depending on how many people will be traveling and where you are going
Decide where you will stay and book in advance. There are so many places to find cheap hotel rooms or home rentals, and so many different ways to find housing that you should be able to end up with something that will meet your budget while still being a nice place to stay. A tip from my husband who works in the hospitality industry - call the hotel directly and tell them you found them on a budget site but want to book with them directly. You could save money on additional fees and they’ll usually match the price.
Now for the fun stuff. Plan your activities! Obviously, everyone’s pace and interests are different, so do a little research to figure out what will work for you and your traveling companions. I always like to plan two main things a day and leave the rest of the day free in case things come up. Overbooking your schedule can cause a lot of stress, and underbooking your schedule can leave you feeling bored or dissatisfied. Have a list of options, but be flexible.
Now it’s time to enjoy your trip! How do you plan vacations? Any tips?
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BBQ Ribs Recipes
There is nothing like a BBQ to celebrate summer! Impress your friends and branch out from burgers and hot dogs by serving some delicious ribs at your next barbeque. No matter what kind of grill you have, and even if you don’t have one, here are some BBQ rib recipes you’ll want to check out.
BBQ Ribs Recipes
If you don't have a grill but still want a BBQ experience, try out these ribs you make in your oven! Find the recipe here from All Recipes.
via All Recipes
If you love the taste that comes from grilling food, this ribs recipe from Food Network starts in the oven and ends up on the grill. Check out the recipe here!
via Traeger Grills
I'm a full-on convert of a Traeger Grill. Everything is delicious on them - including these ribs that start of being smoked for three hours before they're actually cooked. Look at this recipe here.
Be prepared for your next BBQ and check out the grills available at RC Willey. You'll find one in your budget that'll make your summer even more enjoyable.
What are your favorite BBQ ribs recipes?
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Dryer Safety
Did you know that according to the US Fire Administration 2,900 home clothes dryers are reported each year? Most dryer fires are caused by lint build up. Each time you dry clothes, lint is produced and collected in your dryer. Lint blocks the flow of air and causes heat build-up, so if there is too much lint in either your exhaust duct or lint screen, you’ve got a potential fire hazard on your hands. These fires can cause some serious damage and are a huge safety issue, so it’s important to follow some basic dryer safety rules. By being informed and staying smart, you’ll be able to keep your home and family safe.
Dryer Safety
- Clean your lint filter after drying each load of clothes. If you’re noticing your clothes are not drying in your dryer, it might be a clue that your filter needs to be cleaned out. Also, make sure you never use a dryer without a lint filter or that has a damaged lint filter.
- You need to make sure you have exhaust air escaping out of the outside dryer vent while the dryer is going. If you are noticing there is less air or aren’t sure if your dryer is venting efficiently, you’ll want to clean out the dryer vent and exhaust pipe. Plan on cleaning this area every couple of months.
- Keep the area around your dryer clean and lint free - especially behind the dryer where lint can easily build up.
- Change out your plastic or foil accordion-type ducting for rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct instead.
- Turn off and stop running your dryer when you are away from home or while you are asleep. If something does go wrong, you want to make sure you’re available to fix the problem quickly!
- Make sure your electric dryer is pulled into an outlet designed for a dryer and that your gas-powered dryer has no leaks in its connection.
- Avoid overloading your dryer, drying anything that has rubber or plastic, or anything that has come in contact with something flammable like gasoline.
By following these safety measures you’ll keep your home safe and minimize any dryer fire hazard. Don’t forget to check out RC Willey for all your laundry needs!
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How to Increase Your Home's Curb Appeal: Part 2
Last month I wrote a blog post that gave 6 Simple Ways to Increase your Home's Curb Appeal. I had such a hard time narrowing down my list down to just six, so today I thought I'd continue the conversation with a part 2! In addition to painting your front door, getting new house numbers, switching up your hardware, dressing up the front porch, and hanging up an American flag, here are 5 more ways to make your home really shine this summer....
1. Get Window Boxes and Plant Fresh Flowers
I mean, no explanation needed! Flower boxes are just dripping with charm, and in my opinion, as long as they are in good condition and the flowers are tended to, they make a house look about twenty times cuter!
via midwest living
2. Spruce Up Your Mailbox
Whether you go full-bore and completely replace your mailbox, or simply give it a little love and attention, the results can be stunning! Planting a few flowers and cleaning up the weeds and grass around your mailbox can make all the difference!
via grandin road
3. Paint Your Garage Door
Giving your front door a fresh coat of new paint is fairly common, but lots of people either forget about giving their garage door the same kind of love! If the exterior of your home is feeling blah, try giving your garage door a face lift! A new coat of paint can really pop and transform the entire home!
via houzz
4. Tile Your Front Porch
If you're ready to take your front porch game to the next level, consider laying tile down on the floor! Besides looking really classy and nice, it will give your porch so much more personality! The sky is the limit when it comes to color and design, so you can easily find tile or stone that reflects the style of your home.
via bhg
5. Replace Exterior Lighting
Lighting is such an integral part of the exterior of your home. The bad news is that over time, your light fixtures will start looking dated, but the good news is that they are fairly painless to replace! You don't have to break the bank, and it's a quick way to update your look.
Some of you might not know this, but RC Willey carries so much more than just furniture, electronics, and appliances! Check out our incredible selection of lawnmowers, sheds, greenhouses, and outdoor tools that will help you as you boost your home's curb appeal this summer!
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