Short-Term Health Insurance

Everyone needs health insurance. It’s not something that is nice to have, or a goal you should have for one day in the future; it is an absolute necessity when it comes to protecting your health and your financial independence. If you find yourself without insurance for a period of time, it may be tempting to save some money and go without. However, that is a risky choice to make; that’s why you have the option of short-term health insurance.

This type of insurance is suitable for a number of situations. If you just finished college and haven’t yet found your first post-grad job, short-term health insurance may be the best solution for you. It’s also a great way of getting insurance if you’ve just started a new job and are waiting through a trial for your benefits to kick in, or if you’ve been offered a job that begins six months down the road. This type of health insurance might also be appropriate if you retired but are still a few months away from turning 65 – you don’t yet qualify for Medicare, but you’ve lost the health insurance available through your work. Finally, if you are an expatriate who recently returned home to America, you may have to wait a few months before you are eligible for coverage.

If one of these situations sounds familiar, then are an ideal candidate for short-term health insurance.Your situation is not permanent; you will get health insurance soon, but you don’t want to be at risk in the interim. This type of insurance provides coverage for a limited period of time, usually anywhere from 30 days to one year. It is less expensive than standard health insurance plans, but it also provides a smaller amount of coverage. Because it is temporary, and purchased with the assumption you will have standard insurance soon, most short-term health insurance plans do not cover physicals, preventative care or immunizations; rather, they are meant to protect against unexpected illness or injury. It is meant as emergency coverage so you are protected in the worst case scenario – not as a replacement for standard, long-term health insurance.

Short-Term Health Insurance

If you are a freelancer find out ins and outs of individual health insurance

Lots of people dream of working for themselves. Few things sound better than having no boss to answer to, making your own schedule, and even working in your pajamas, if you like. But if you’re making the switch from a steady job to freelancing full-time, you’re also losing some perks. A guaranteed income is the obvious loss, but there’s also vacation pay, sick days, and health insurance. Insurance means you’re covered if an unexpected illness occurs– and unexpected illnesses or injuries can cost thousands of dollars you don’t have. Here are some tips to help you find affordable health insurance as an individual seeking coverage.

Know how much coverage you need. If you are a young, relatively healthy person, you don’t need to purchase as much insurance as someone in their 60′s who is at risk for diabetes. If you want indiviudual health insurance so you’re protected in an emergency, you might want to consider purchasing a plan with a high deductible. The deductible is the amount of money you need to pay before your plan begins to cover the costs. Choosing a plan with a high deductible will considerably decrease your monthly insurance payment.

Know what you need covered. If you take any medications regularly, make sure you get an insurance plan that covers them. A list of all covered drugs is available from the provider. You’ll also want to consider what you may need in the future. For example, if you plan to start a family, make sure the plan you choose has maternity coverage. If you are at risk for a certain disease, make sure the treatments for this condition are included.

Shop around. After you decide how much coverage you need, and you know what, specifically, you need covered it’s time to use that information to find the best combination of cost and coverage. Don’t just choose a plan from the first provider you see. If you want cheap health insurance, you’ll need to compare prices between insurance companies. Every company is different, and every company offers multiple plans. The more quotes you get, the more likely you are to find a great deal that gives you the health insurance you need.


If you are a freelancer find out ins and outs of individual health insurance

Tips for Keeping Your Teen Safe behind the Wheel

Saving on auto insurance for your teen is something that you have to research on to get the most affordable auto insurance premiums available in your state. Auto insurance companies give discounts to teens who are responsible drivers basing this decision on their grades. The safety of your teen behind the wheel of course is not just a concern of the insurer or a concern because of the costs but one that is of importance because it is your child behind the wheel. Accidents happen and no parent would want their teen in a car crash that is why there is always a need to lay down a couple of rules or more for you to let your teen start driving.

Teenage years are rather difficult. It is that time of one’s life when one is still finding out where one belongs and trying to keep up with peers is not only logical but an urge. This makes teens susceptible to peer pressure and this can involve drinking while driving or drunk driving especially for teenage boys since testosterone is cursing through their veins. It is the job of parents to ensure that this does not happen because driving under the influence increases the possibility of being involved in an accident. Telling your teen how important it is to abide by this rule is a good start – education after all, begins at home.

Teaching your teen how to maintain his or her car is also something you should definitely do. Ensuring that the brakes, the engine, and the wheels are in tiptop shape will prevent your teen from getting in a preventable accident.

Telling your teen to be cautious while on the road is of course something that most parents would do but this might not be enough that’s why experts say that laying down ground rules such as limiting the places they can drive to and setting a curfew is a good idea.

A car with safety features can improve your teen’s control of the wheels and will also help him or her get a good driving record.

Picking the right car for your teenage son or daughter is a good idea not only because this will save you money on his or her auto insurance policy but because it is a precautionary measure if a car crash happens.

Tips for Keeping Your Teen Safe behind the Wheel

Misfortune on roads at the holidays can result in increasing your car insurance costs

Not many people are aware that all those hazards which are typical during the hectic holiday season can actually put an end to your previously cheap car insurance. There are a lot of reasons why driving at the holidays can prove more dangerous, but there are steps you can take to help keep your auto insurance quotes low.

Be Careful at Shopping Destinations

During the holiday season, parking lots in shopping centers and at major department stores become much busier. There are not only a lot more cars, but there are a lot more pedestrians as well. Plus, many kids have school breaks around the holidays, which means keeping an even sharper eye out for fast-moving foot traffic. At this time of year, it’s a good idea to take extra precautions when you’re out getting shopping done.

Drive Safely

There never seems to be enough time for anyone during the holidays, and this translates into unsafe driving habits. Feeling rushed and stressed trying to get everything taken care of means other drivers aren’t practicing the type of caution they normally would on the roads. People also might have their car really loaded up with boxes and packages which limit their visibility. Take a few deep breaths before starting your engine so you can remain a calm and safe driver, and keep an extra eye out for less cautious or distracted drivers.

Watch for Walkers

The foot traffic really increases during the holidays. Whether people are out shopping more, looking at the seasonal decorations, or giving their families a quick tour of the town, there are definitely a lot more folk who are out and about. Much like drivers, pedestrians at this time of year are often distracted or rushed, and not paying as much attention as they normally would to their surrounding conditions. As a driver on the road, practice being more observant during this time frame. Double-check your blind spots and try to keep from being too distracted on the roads yourself.

By following these three tips during the holidays, you’ll be able to enjoy a safe and happy time with your family. Plus, avoiding any mishaps or accidents is a surefire way to help keep you auto insurance rates at a reasonable level.

Misfortune on roads at the holidays can result in increasing your car insurance costs

The Benefits of Business Interruption Insurance

For easily and quickly addressing problems connected to a business’ physical location with a risk of income loss, a certain type of small business insurance is designed, called “Business Interruption Insurance”. Business interruption insurance can help mitigate losses which are not typically covered by standard property insurance policies. Adding this extra coverage can really make a positive impact in the event of the unexpected, and may mean the difference between the life and death of your business.

Feel Comfortable with the Extra Protection

With business interruption insurance, your business will be protected if there is a loss of income. This can occur when it’s become impossible to do business at your existing location. Examples of why this could happen include damages due to storms or other natural disasters, break-ins, or any other circumstances which require you to do business from a different location temporarily. This can really ease the financial burden of any business which is forced to cover expenses for two different physical locations (the original and the temporary) for the short-term.

Costs Coverage

Interruption coverage will often take care of any fixed expenses as well. These are determined by examining your business records to find typical costs of those expenses, such as utilities and rent. The amount of coverage granted by the benefits for income loss is also determined by previous financial records. Extra expenses, such as those incurred by simultaneously operating from a new location while maintaining the old location, may also be covered by a business interruption policy.

Protecting Your Investment

Purchasing business interruption insurance is likely one of the most valuable coverages you can maintain for your business. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the types of business insurance policies which is very typically overlooked by business owners. It’s far too easy to forget that a physical property is needed in order to keep running the business, and take it for granted. Additionally, many business owners may incorrectly assume that property insurance covers loss of income. In reality, a property policy typically only covers physical losses such as the building itself and any inventory. For more comprehensive protection, including business interruption insurance is crucial for anyone who is interested in the longevity of their company.

The Benefits of Business Interruption Insurance

Health insurance for smokers

Without any doubt, having health insurance is a primary necessity these days despite its optional status. Any person that ever had to do anything with healthcare without a standard health insurance policy will tell you that it’s simply impossible to get proper care for reasonable money. Even an average health condition like flu or bronchitis can result in a medical bill that you’ll need to pay half of your annual salary to settle. Not to mention emergency situation when surgery and hospital care are required, and we all know that it can be as costly as hell. So whether costly or not, an insurance plan is a much more affordable option for having your health covered. But what if you make part of an insurance group that isn’t really favored these days? What’s the cost of health insurance if you’re a smoker?

Being a smoker isn’t cheap, and if you didn’t realize it already the numerous studies and social campaigns sure did their job on informing you about the costs and perils of smoking. It is a well-established fact that smoking causes certain types of cancer, has serious effects on your general health and is a serious money drain, especially if you prefer the costlier cigarette brands. But what does health insurance have to do with it?

Well, the relation is rather obvious and unambiguous. If smoking is directly related to certain health conditions that cause the customer to file insurance claims more often than health insurance will be more expensive for the customer with such a habit. That’s why smokers always get higher rates than their non-smoking peers, and the difference can be rather pronounced depending on the company and the particular demographic group the person makes part of. But wait, it can get even worse!

Some companies will be unwilling to insure you once they realize that you’re a smoker and have any pre-existing conditions that can be attributed to this habit. They will regard your application as too risky to deal with and will deny you coverage. Sure, this may seem outrageous bit there were cases like these around the country and it’s the insurer’s right to decide whether you’re suited for having your health insured with them or not. So keep this in mind when shopping around for health insurance plans, since some of the quotes may drop off once the insurers realize that you’re a smoker.

It may sure look tempting to conceal your habit when applying for health insurance, but it’s not a particularly bright thing to do. In case the insurer finds out that you’re smoking or you develop a condition that can be linked to smoking you will likely to get your policy terminated and subjected to a substantial fine. But what’s even worse, this fact will be included to your insurance history and other companies will know very well that you’ve misinformed your previous provider. As a result your rates will always be high if any insurer will accept your application at all.

So, what’s the best solution for smoker to deal with health insurance? The most logic solution would be to quit smoking as it will spare your health and offer you lower rates. If you’re not willing to give up, however, at least make sure to inform your potential insurer about the habit in order to avoid any future complications. Otherwise you risk being left without any health insurance.

Health insurance for smokers

If You Have One of These Five Most Dangerous Jobs, Life Insurance is a Must

No.1 Commercial Fishing

Based on statistics from the year 2010, the dangers of the high seas has resulted to 116 deaths for every 100,000 commercial fishing personnel. There is a record of 129 deaths as well as 61 injuries for every 100,000 American commercial fishermen in the year 2008 alone. The fishing industry has been suffering from extremely high occupational death rates in the past few years. And probably these workers are the greater part of life insurance carriers.

No.2 Loggers

The death rate in this industry is 91.9 per 100,000. If you think you are cut out to be a logger, there are three things you need to have on your side – luck, reflexes and skills. Whether one is cutting down a big tree as heavy as 10 tons or as high as a 5-storey building, loading heavy trunks or doing other stuff related to your job, you would need to have all of abovementioned things.

No.3 Goldminer

Having to work in an open-pit mine is basically like working inside or being part of a finely tuned machine. Goldminers usually have to drive 200-ton trucks, rummage through rocks or orchestrate explosions to get near the gold. It’s not just goldminers that are exposed to this kind of environment though – other types of miners also have to deal with these dangers day in and day out. The most dangerous mining job goes to mining machine operators though because 38.7 per 100,000 of them die annually.

No.4 Garbage Collectors/Professional Recyclers

Although this job was not even in the top 10 most dangerous jobs 10 years ago, they have become deadlier in recent times. The increasing number of waste in the United States resulted to an increase in collections which means that collectors are usually on the road. Aside from machinery accidents, garbage collectors are also exposed to traffic-related accidents.

No. 5 Roofers

In 2008, there were 34 recorded deaths in every 100,000 American roofers. Although the numbers are still the same, this job is still relatively one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States. Aside from trips and falls, roofers also have to be careful when dealing with hot asphalt.

All these people have the first neccessity of a life insurance protection for their families as a financial investment. Whether you work for an industry that exposes you to danger on a daily basis or you work in an office building where it is relatively safe, getting a life insurance policy is always a good idea.

If You Have One of These Five Most Dangerous Jobs, Life Insurance is a Must

Homeowners insurance cost depends on a house safety

Though home insurance may be not mandatory you shouldn’t think it isn’r worth getting one. If you own a house or an apartment having an insurance policy for your property is a very smart decision. There are many risks your home may be exposed to over the course of the years, from natural perils to technological disasters and simple human misbehavior. In situations like these your property may be damaged to a great extent and paying for its repair will prove to be very costly. Home insurance is designed to protect you financially in such circumstances since it pays for repairing or rebuilding your property in predetermined situations. Still, for some people the cost of having their homes insured seems to be very high. They will say that they can’t afford to have home insurance because of the rates. Fortunately, there are many effective ways to reduce the costs of having your property insured. And improving your house’s safety is certainly one of the most effective and beneficial of them.

Security and safety play a very important role in all forms of insurance. Insurers base their rates on the risk they undertake when covering a certain item (home, auto, jewelry, etc.). This risk is determined by many different factors, yet the security of the object is naturally a crucial one. The lower is an object’s (or subject’s) security, the higher is the risk of the insurance situation taking place. For example, if your car doesn’t have an alarm it is more likely to be stolen than if it had one. And that’s obvious why insurers relate their pricing on the security rating of the object they are to insure.

Let’s project this knowledge on houses and try to understand which measures should be taken for improving home security and optimizing home insurance costs. Fact is that home safety and security can be a bit complex and overwhelming since there are so many aspects involved. From simple pluming optimization and minimization of leak risks to fire alarms and video surveillance systems – it all may look too costly and time consuming. But no one’s rushing you here and you can easily take one step at a time.

What can you do to improve your home safety?

Remember the most prevalent perils homeowners insurance is designed to protect you against: fire, flood, windstorms, burglary, earthquakes, lightning, etc. Some of them cannot be prevented or protected from like in the case of earthquakes or technological disasters, while others are quite simple to prevent. Fire damage risk can be minimized by installing smoke detectors, fire alarm or even an extinguishing system. Even having a common fire extinguisher somewhere within reach can be a good measure that the insurer will take into account. Checking your roof and walls for leaks and maintaining your pluming system can be very good for decreasing flood damage. Lightning damage can be easily eliminated by having a lightning rod at the top of your house. Burglary can be prevented by having sturdy doors, quality locks, alarm and surveillance systems installed in your house.

One by one, these measures will gradually make your house more secure against a range of risks, and the home insurance company will surely notice that. The better you are at securing your property the lower will be your home insurance rates because insurers like it when the customer minimizes the risks for them. So you’re actually killing two birds with one stone here since you both make your house safer for you and your family to live in and decrease the cost of insuring it.

Homeowners insurance cost depends on a house safety

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Finding the Right Contemporary Furniture for Your House

Many people interchange the terms "contemporary" and "modern" when it comes to house furnishings. In reality, modern and contemporary furniture have distinct features. Know the difference between the two when conducting a home renovation project.

Contemporary versus Modern

Contemporary items have earth shades and simple outlines, accented with fine details. Due to these features, most of them look softer, neater, and more natural in appearance.

Modern furniture pieces are often designed to look futuristic. Its innovative designs aim to make the piece look more interesting and striking. Most of its designs are not visible on the typical pieces of furniture your grandma has kept. The use and production of modern furniture started during the 1950s. Until now, many furniture companies produce different modern furnishings.

Many homeowners still go for furniture items with contemporary designs. This is especially true for those who have simple houses with minimalist designs. They also go well with classic and antique pieces passed down by your mom or grandmother.

Choosing your Contemporary Furniture

Household needs are one of the first things to remember when shopping for home furnishings. Focusing only on the items the house needs is one aspect many people forget when buying from a furniture store.

For example, if your dining table is still in good condition, buy only a matching set of chairs and not an entire dining set. When you need contemporary coffee tables, don't be drawn to the many beautiful loveseats available on the home centre. If you let the "wants" take over the "needs," you might end up buying the wrong piece for your house.

After knowing the exact items you need, think about the size. To do this effectively, examine the place you intend to put the piece on. If possible, measure the space to get the exact dimensions you need. Be it a table or a bed, don't buy a piece too big or too small for your room.

Comfortable Contract Furnishings

When you are in the hotel and leisure industry or require seating for any commercial reason such as for residential homes or clubs or offices, you will need to look closely at suppliers of contract furniture. This particular type of furniture includes a mix of arrangements for various different areas such as modern bar seating, lounge, relaxation areas and the reception. Furniture will usually consist of a mix of pieces like club chairs, modern bar seating, reclining chairs, dining chairs and ottomans.

The important factor is the degree of comfort. Whether the seating is in a leisure centre or a hotel, you will need quality in the fabric or materials used. Contract furniture will have daily heavy use and wear and tear is likely to be significant. In certain areas people are likely to be sitting on chairs for quite long periods and therefore ergonomic specifications will need to be taken into account for postural reasons. Some chairs benefit from having an option for different positions. An adjustment mechanism may incline them at different angles. This may particularly affect furniture intended for a TV or cinema room for reclining.

Modern bar seating is more than just a wooden bar stool. You can choose from bar chairs, club chairs or stools. In the past, club chairs were generally only used in clubs for relaxation and cigars. Whatever the area or choice of style, the next issue is fabric and material used in the manufacture. You may like to consider high-density wood. Stylish ottomans might also make a good addition.

Dining room chairs are another area to consider. You may need to think about furniture for banqueting suites, fixed seating and benches along wall areas in addition to free standing chairs, sofas and tables. When it comes to tables, are you sure about whether you want a square, oval or round table? What will look better in a larger room may not suit a smaller, more intimate space.

Folding chairs are an option if your venue may hold larger events whereby you need to store seating at certain times or during the winter if furniture is outside in the warmer months.

5 Questions Answered About Buying Furniture Online

How do I know it's a trusted business?

This question puts many off of online buying, especially when dealing with an SME or not well known company. The truth is; many internet stores are genuine people doing genuine business. However, wherever there's money to be made there's cowboys, so you'll want to keep your wits about you when shopping. The best way to decide whether a business is trustworthy is to find reviews online about them. If they are renowned for being dodgy, then there will be plenty of disgruntled customers warning you about them All you need to do is type in 'company name' followed by 'reviews' into Google and you'll soon have your answer.

How do I know the payment is safe?

Furniture can often be expensive and making a large payment online can be quite daunting. There are many measures in place to protect consumers in the online marketplace. A great way to check if a site has secure and protected payment is to look for a certified seal. All secure payment providers will let a business use a seal or badge to show that they are safe. Alternatively, you can go through PayPal, which is a service that guarantees protection on all payments.

Will it come assembled?

Usually, furniture purchased from the internet will come in an RTA (ready to assemble) state. So, it won't be assembled when it gets to you, but instead will come with instructions and tools for putting it together. It comes like this to ease shipping and reduce costs.

The treasure map to my slapper of gold

I walked into the kithen the other morning and found this treasure map on the fridge:

"A cruncher like this would be too BOLD, but seek and ye may find a slapper of GOLD!"

At first I thought it was a little treaure hunt/ game that my husband had made for the kids. But then I read it again...  I call the 3-hole punch in our office the "cruncher:"

And so I realized that "slapper" must mean stapler...

And I had just seen the prettiest stapler EVAAA when we were at Pottery Barn...

So I followed to the end of the map...

I saw the drawing of the banana peel & had no idea what that meant  (He just told me that it was a chandelier)

wups!

... but I recoginzed the shelf with binders & boxes and glasss jugs on it as the one from the

back office:

{See the shelf all the way to the right?}

And I ran down there and on top of the shelf where X had marked the spot, there was the beautiful brass stapler that I'd been eyeing!!

eeeeeeeek!!

Here's a quick pic I snapped of it:

{The "slapper" of gold i.e. a brass stapler from Pottery Barn}

I love it!! 

 I'm not five years old any more, but my husband understands that I still get excited about things like a five year-old.  

...and that makes me really happy.

ps- I love that he thinks that a brass crucher (3 hold punch) would be too "bold" ...  I think he's right ;) ;)

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Meet the Designers at Corporate Culture

Auckland design fans, take note: Our friends at Corporate Culture are inviting HOME readers to a very special 'Meet the Designers' event next Wednesday 18 July from 6-8pm at the Corporate Culture showroom (73 The Strand, Parnell).

You'll ...hear designers Nathan Goldsworthy, Emma Hayes, Tim Webber and Christopher Johnson speak about their latest work. Emma and Tim were finalists in this year's HOME Design Awards, and Nathan has been a finalist on a number of occasions before. Entry to the talks is free.

Entry to the talks if free. If you're keen to attend, please RSVP to Christine Lawton, christine@corporateculture.co.nz. It's going to be an enjoyable and informative evening!

Above: The 'Adjutant' table by Nathan Goldsworthy, from our Design Awards 2011. Photograph by Toaki Okano, styling by Jessica Allen and Tanya Wong.

Designer Emma Hayes' 'River Print' fabric series (above) was a finalist in our 2012 Design Awards, as was Tim Webber's series of 'Y' stools (below). Both photographs by Toaki Okano, with styling by Juliette Wanty and Alicia Menzies. 

How does your garden grow and a gardening giveaway!

What is it about gardens and why we love them so? I am a sucker for a more natural looking garden, kind of like the perfect combination of nature just doing what it does best...growing all kinds of beautiful trees, shrubs and flowers with a little help from us to keep things neat and pristine. Nothing overly done, nothing too perfect and a beautiful lake or pond, a charming gazebo and some gorgeous statuary and planters certainly is the icing on the cake. One thing I never tire of looking at is pictures of beautiful gardens. They literally have the ability to "take me away" to a beautiful, magical, serene place. Do they have that effect on you too? I had a loooong wish list at the start of this summer (being its the first summer in our new house, I came wide eyed and full of dreams and wishes) but the reality is that little has gotten done and the list remains nearly as long as it did when summer started! So....thinking next year is the year (please remind me that I said this).

One thing I wanted to desperately do is start my own garden, had one in our first house and few things could make me as happy as when I ran out first thing in the morning to fetch what nature had sowed.....it was thrilling to load up a big crate of tomatoes and cucumbers! I have planted some flowers this year, and of course several new hydrangea bushes which grow really well around here, they are practically fool proof! I have done some container gardening, (mostly indoors though) and though I have done little....the little I have done has been immensely satisfying and I realized this year how much I enjoy it, always looking for an excuse to visit a nursery or a beautiful florist or greenhouse (to the point where I think some people think I work there)! So next year, my green thumb is going to be glowing and ready for action! Today  I share with you some exquisite gardening images I have saved that just make me exhale and immediately bring down my blood pressure a few notches. To boot....this is being tied in with a fabulous gardening giveaway!! Something from my shop in conjunction with a few chic gardening items from Angela's garden. All details on bottom. Enjoy..............

This is positively magical, Old Westbury Gardens

This makes my heart sing.....the white blooms, the charming seating arrangement, does it get any better?

The manicured look of I believe boxed hedges is simple perfection.

Beautiful planters and statuary, boxwoods, a fountain and lush foliage make this cozy, inviting but above all very elegant. London gardens

This charming parterre garden is just beautiful, Lamaisonfou

How beautiful is a simple garden bench on a sea of perfect grass with a raging flower garden as a backdrop!

Dreamy don't you think? A beautiful arbor or corridor of pale pink roses....spectacular!

Give me an expanse of bright green lawn, and a bed of blooming hydrangeas and I am good to go!

Green with Envy garden tour.....lush, secluded and magical is how I would sum this fabulous setting up.....

What awakens every one of our sense as much as a breathtaking rose garden/arbor? Granted this is not something most of us could easily achieve but its certainly a thing of beauty to aspire to!

White flowers in a lush green garden are the picture of elegance, Southern Accents

Statuary is such a gorgeous compliment to a lush and elegant garden, love this! Linda Floyd

How beautiful is this? What a perfect hideaway aka reading spot! Alfreds Gardens

Love a shaded parterre garden with a beautiful bench,  it just beckons you to sit and stay awhile, Pam Penick

One of my most favorite looks a boxed grass courtyard surrounded by hedges and towering large trees.....just breathtaking! J Schamp photography

Arbors and fountains are a beautiful way to complement a garden, Rinfret

How about a wisteria arbor to enter your herb garden? Yes thank you! The garden tourist

The right dose of weathered benches, boxed perimeter hedges, florals and lavender/heather......love love love it!

Gorgeous boxwoods frame this elegant patio, love the idea of a bold statuary item to center it.....Susan Friedman design group

OK if this isn't the picture of idyllic charm...don't know what is! Old Westbury Gardens

Love white in gardens and this lush garden's hydrangea borders are just amazing!!

Yes this requires boatloads of work and maintenance, but how stunning is this perfectly manicured garden featuring these round boxwoods lining a walkway? Domestic Executive

How beautiful is this bronze statue placed in the middle of a gorgeous lily pond? Love!!! Linda Floyd

This has been in my files for a long long time as a picture perfect "yard" (while I realize its far from your average yard) love the manicured, restrained feeling......visual perfection. Southern Accents

Are you channeling your inner green thumb yet? I am and most definitely feeling very inspired though we all know to have anything like those above, must be a true labor of love. These just do not "happen"! 

 So to get you really motivated I am offering a wonderful gardening giveaway! I am offering a beautiful aged moss fiberglass planter along with this beautiful pair of kidskin leather gardening gloves and matching stylish hat, courtesy of Angelas Garden. To enter its very simple, click on my store (here) and come back and tell me one item that you would love to own. Want a second chance then visit Angelas Garden (here) and tell me a gardening item you would love to have.  If you are in the market for great looking, very stylish, well priced gardening accessories, look no further, Angelas Garden is AMAZING!  I will announce a lucky winner on Friday! Good luck.......and get your garden on!

Here's the planter ready for your green thumb to work its magic!

And the beautiful kidskin gardening gloves and chic matching hat from Angela's garden...

If this doesn't get you motivated to begin gardening, don't know what will. Talk about gardening in style! Thanks for stopping in....wishing you a wonderful day. Be back on Friday!!

Guest posting today at Inspired Design!

Hi there...hope you had a great weekend! Ours was busy and great but oh so hot!  I was melting and don't know if I have ever felt such incredibly hot weather, about 100 as a temp but once the humidity was factored in the index's were more like 109!! As you can see I have been posting less...there's been a lot of coming and going so my posting and blog visits have been sporadic. I do try to visit all my favorite blogs (and theres a ton of them) when I can, but realistically I expect this is how it will be for most of the summer. However, come fall I expect things to go right back to a more regular schedule (and I look forward to it). This summer has been quite busy with not as much downtime as I would like, so really hoping August might be a bit more relaxed! Moving on.....

Today I am over at one of my most favorite blogs and the guest of one of my best blogging friends, Debby of Inspired Design. Yes, that gorgeous blog that promises a perfect dose of stunning style, picturesque travel pics, inspiring images and always a well written prose worth reading every single word of. Debby knows just how to draw you in and my morning blog rounds simply would not be the same without a stop over at Inspired Design. Debby started her "Smitten with summer" series and asked me to guest post, naturally I was thrilled and jumped at the chance! Please stop over and visit me there, click here to visit!

Just a brief sidenote Debby, being the talented girl and photographer that she is recently launched her online store, Inspired Design Print Shop,  featuring the most gorgeous photographs (perfect for framing and hanging as a grouping) of her favorite places on earth. Places like Nantucket, Paris and California. The giclee prints (8x10)  are absolutely gorgeous, well priced and a really terrific way to display your love for some of your favorite destinations, also a superb gift idea! I think they are so well done, just had to share. Here's a sneak peek of what she offers...............Click here to visit her Print shop.

Pretty gorgeous don't you think? Thanks for stopping in....see you over at Inspired Design!

The Boys' Lake Cottage Bedroom

We recently visited my dad, who lives on a lake, and I did a few things to the boys' bedroom there.  Christian, our 5 year old (today's his birthday!!!) and Justin, our 2 "and-a-half" year old sleep in the room that used to be my dad's  and my Uncle Teddy's when they were boys.

Our family's had the cottage since the 50s and our boys love visiting now...

Whenever I visit my dad, I get a few things done here and there. Lots of it is fast and unplanned which means most of it is antique shops & retail..  This time, I did a little in the boys' bedroom.  Here's the view from the door...

I switched out some of the "girlier" fabrics and colors  (The aqua and corals I'd put in 10 years ago just weren't quite making it boyish enough ;) and added a few things from around the house & a few new ones.  I pulled in the old Ikea chair we'd had and am eying another chair to swap it our with but will have to wait on that one.  It's a nice spot to read with the boys.  I DEFINITELY need to add some blackout matchstick shades (they wake up waaaaaay to early with the sun & the time change) and plan on adding a wall of old family photos across from the bed so the boys will see their great-grandparents and the rest of the family when this lakehouse was in its heyday.  (It used to be packed every weekend with family but we live so far away it's not the same.)  We still all get together there, just not often enough. 

One of my favorite additions to the room is the set of basket fish we hung from the ceiling:

{found at the PB kids store}

I "borrowed" this vintage ship model of my dad's from another room in the house:

{A secret: The curtains I hung are too short for the windows but are mostly hidden behind furniture.  When the shades get added, I'll hand the rods a bit higher and add more fabric to the panels - probably in a contrasting fabric.  But for now = shhhhhhhh }

Christian sleeps on the left and Justin is on the right with the bed rails to keep him from falling out.  I love tucking them in at night and climbing into bed with one of  them.  Justin kicked me out this trip saying I should "snuggle with Trin Trin" instead.  (I guess I'm a bed hog.)  We watched fireworks  from the window the other night and I fell asleep.  It made me really happy.

I know it would have been a prettier pic without Justin's bed rails but that would have taken too long ;) ;)

I love the size of this room.  The ceilings give the illusion of even more space and there's not much "stuff" at all in here because we just bring our clothes when we come.   At home, the boys' room is so tiny that just 1 t-shirt on the floor makes it feel like a mess.  (Add in unmade beds and toys and books and the room looks trashed daily.)  They love playing with toys in here and even when they're not all picked up, the room still feels good.  I WISH this room was in our house at home.

Here are the boys "hanging out."  (Actually, me stealing them away form a game of hide-and-seek to make them sit o the bed so I could get a picture of them in their new room.  Ah vell.)

{"Are you done yet Mom?!!"}

In a couple of years, Luke  will join them in the big boys' room...  probably with a sleeping bag. 



AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BIG 5 YEAR OLD!!!!!

ps- As I mentioned, I've been LOVING instagram on my phone and have been sharing little peeks of projects and tidbits on there.  I showed some pics of this room on there last week & looove playing with the photo editing to make the pics look cool.  (I'm really bad at it right now, I'll be honest, but I have hope.)  I'm not sure how to link over to it but my name on there is LaurenLiess and as soon as I can figure out how, I'll be sure to share a link on the blog so you can find me.  I've been having so much fun seeing everyone's phone photos and it's a little like twitter but waaaaaay better.

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