Tackling Exterior Home Improvement: 4 Tips to Make Your Summer Projects Easier

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Tackling Exterior Home Improvement: 4 Tips to Make Your Summer Projects Easier

This is a sponsored post.

If you’re anything like me, the sunny days of summer have got you thinking about how you can beautify and improve the exterior of your home. If you’re planning any improvements for your yard or the outside of your house this year, then make sure you read these four tips to make your project go as smoothly as possible!

1. Take Stock

When you own a home, it can seem like the “Honey-do” list is endless. Something is always in need of repair or upgrade, and there are always things you’d like to add on or improve. The best way to keep homeowner overwhelm at bay is to go outside with a notebook and walk around the perimeter. Write down everything that needs doing: Does the gutter need to be replaced? Would you like to add a concrete pad to store your grill on? Is the paint peeling? Write it all down, then review your list and start prioritizing. Are there small repairs you can do now that will prevent larger projects later on? Is there something you could add on now that would make this summer more enjoyable? Think about what’s urgent, what’s important, and what you have the budget for.

2. Get Inspired

Once you have an idea of what area you’re going to tackle, it’s time to start kicking around ideas. How do you envision your home looking once this improvement is done? What does your dream home look like? It can be a lot of fun to flip through home improvement and interior design magazines to get ideas of what’s out there – and of course, the Internet is a wealth of unlimited possibilities! Pinterest and YouTube both have some amazingly creative ideas, and Decks & Docks Lumber Company has a drool-worthy project gallery with examples of beautiful decks, outdoor lighting, and cozy docks for waterfront property. These visual aids can be a big help for narrowing down what you want, and seeing what the possibilities are!

3. DIY, or Hire a Guy?

Now that you know which project you’re tackling, you have to figure out how you want to approach it. Are you going to do it yourself, or hire a professional? This is where it’s important to do your homework and research, research, research! DIY can have its advantages, such as being more affordable, but not all projects can be done without help. Contractors charge what they do because they are so skilled in their profession, so make sure you weigh up the pros and cons and understand what you’re getting into either way.

4. Check the Weather

While summer generally brings good weather with it, this can vary depending on where you live. For example, here on the Oregon Coast, we’ll have rainy stretches even during summer months – this is why it’s so important to check the weather before you start your project. The last thing you want to do is start painting the exterior of your home right before a seven day rainy patch! You can’t control for all unexpected weather, but if you check the extended forecast before you get started, you can better plan your project to avoid interruptions and rain-soaked tools!

Are you tackling any exterior home improvement projects this summer?

How to Make Home Repairs Easier

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How to Make Home Repairs Easier
This is a sponsored post.

Owning a home is a wonderful feeling – and it is also an incredible amount of work. The maintenance on a home is constant, with something always in need of update, upkeep or repair. After 16 years of home ownership and renovations, I’ve learned a lot about how to deal with the never-ending repairs and upgrades.

Know What You’re Getting Into

There’s a lot to consider when buying a home, including the age of the house and its current state of affairs. Obviously, an older fixer-upper is going to need the most work, but even brand new homes come with a surprising amount of work right out of the gate. Review your home inspection carefully and learn everything you can about the property. You can’t anticipate everything, but you can often get a sense of what might need work down the line.

Be Prepared to Problem-Solve

One major difference between renting and owning is that when something breaks, there’s no landlord to call – it’s all you, baby! And Murphy’s Law always seems to dictate that a pipe will burst at 8PM on a Saturday night. “Expect the unexpected” is the name of the game, so it pays to be resourceful and learn as much about doing your own home maintenance and repair work as possible. A good set of tools can be an amazing investment if you learn how to use them – doing your own minor fixes can save a huge amount of money. You don’t have to be a dyed-in-the-wool handyman, either: You’d be amazed how much you can do on your own just by doing a little Googling. For example, Jai figured out how to repair our furnace years ago just by watching a YouTube video! Not everyone can or should be that ambitious, of course, but it’s empowering to solve little home dilemmas and rewarding to learn new skills.

Know When to Call a Pro

Doing a bit of home maintenance is one thing, but major work needs to be left to the professionals. Don’t get in over your head and try to tackle anything you’re not confident in – you don’t want to take any risks, and every area has different rules and city codes about obtaining permits. Electrical work, plumbing, anything to do with your foundation – all of these things require a professional. And for heaven’s sake, don’t break your neck trying to climb up on the roof – hire someone like Westchase Roofing instead!

Keep a Sense of Humor

Home ownership can be very stressful, especially when something breaks unexpectedly or you are slogging through a big home renovation. When your home is torn up with construction, it can feel very suffocating as well as extremely inconvenient – and expensive! Remember to take a step back, breathe, and remember that this too shall pass. When an obnoxious home disaster strikes, do your best to hang on to your sense of humor and remember that this is all an unavoidable part of owning your own home. The wacky misadventures that occur will someday be funny memories made in your home!

4 Ways to Become a More Effective Philanthropist

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This post is brought to you by our sponsor, and also contains our Amazon Associates link.

We all want to make the world a better place, but it’s hard to know where to start or if your actions will even make a difference. Fortunately, it is possible for every single one of us to do good, no matter who we are – so today, I’d like to share four suggestions to help you become a more effective philanthropist!

Do Your Research

It’s crucial to do your research before supporting a charitable organization. While most organizations do great work, it’s unfortunately all too easy for well-meaning individuals to get duped by a bogus GoFundMe page or phoney Facebook post. Make sure you know where your money is going before you donate. Is the charity a registered 501(c) 3 organization? What are some examples of the previous work they’ve done? Can you verify their contact information? One stellar resource for verifying a nonproft is CharityNavigator.org, which also evaluates how effective organizations are in using their funds.

Find Your Passion

There are so many charities serving so many worthy causes, it’s impossible to help them all; so you have to narrow down your focus. What kind of cause do you want to support? Are you passionate about a specific topic such as education, human rights, or the environment? If you’re not sure where to start, the book Doing Good Better: How Effective Altruism Can Help You Make a Difference by William MacAskill can provide some inspiration.

And if you have a passion for an area that isn’t being served, think outside the box and fill that need yourself! For example, Matt Redhawk began the Matt Redhawk Giving initiative to support others in his community, giving private scholarships to young aspiring pilots to fund their flight training. What a creative way to fill a niche and serve a local need!

Matt Redhawk

Get Your Hands Dirty

No money? No problem! Charitable organizations need helping hands as much as they need funds. Volunteering can be a rewarding way to get involved in your community, do good and make new friends. Not sure where to start? Check with local community centers or churches and ask where there is need. Most communities will have homeless shelters, women’s services, LGBTQ+ centers, animal shelters, and other worthy organizations in need of helpers – so find one and get involved!

Know You Can Make a Difference – No Matter What

Perhaps you’re short on funds and time. But even if your schedule is too crazy to volunteer regularly – and your wallet too empty to donate – you can still make a difference! TheHungerSite.com has been raising funds one click at a time since 1999. All you have to do is click one button, and the revenue raised from their advertisers is donated to feed the hungry. They also have several other partner websites that raise funds for breast cancer research, animal rescue and much more. Clicking through all the sites takes maybe 60 seconds, so it’s not a big time commitment either!

What are YOUR tips for making a difference?

Self-Employment 101: Managing Your Business Finances With Mountain Ridge

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Planning your year

If you’re planning to start your own business in 2019, here’s some advice to make it an amazing year!

Thank you to Mountain Ridge for sponsoring this post.

Tax season is upon us, which means that it’s a great time to get your finances in order for the year. If you’re thinking about starting your own business in 2019, it’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into financially. It’s very important to get a grasp on the financial side of things before you take any further steps – starting a business is not something you want to do impulsively!

Self-Employment 101: Managing Your Business Finances With Mountain Ridge

If you’re used to working for someone else, dealing with business finances is a whole other beast. Here are some important questions to ask yourself before you take the plunge:

  • What type of business are you launching? The type of business you plan to start will inform how you manage the financial aspects. For example, my own business required almost nothing in startup costs since I originally started it as a free Blogger.com account; but if you’re planning to open something like a restaurant or retail store, your startup costs will be very different. It’s important to do extensive research beforehand, so that you don’t end up spending far more on your business than you anticipated or launching a business venture you can’t afford.
  • How will you finance it initially? I started my business by registering a domain name which probably cost around $1, so I essentially started my business with the spare change hanging around my purse! 99% of businesses will require more than “A couple of bucks I found in the couch cushions” to start, so you’ll need to consider whether this money will come from a bank loan, personal savings or investors.
  • What are your plans for growing the business? My business costs have obviously grown to be a lot more than that initial dollar investment. I re-invest some of my earnings back into the business to cover expenses, which makes practical sense for the type of business I’m running. Your own business plan may require taking out a loan to keep up with needs. There is always a fine balance to be found between spending enough so that your venture can grow, but not spending so much that you cut into your profits excessively – or worse, accumulate debt that doesn’t even result in higher earnings.
  • Have you sought advice? Talking to others in your desired field can help give you a reality check about what to expect starting your business venture, so it can be helpful to “Talk shop” with colleagues – just don’t harangue them for too much free advice! While your peers make a good sounding board, the people whose brains you should really be picking are professionals. Get a recommendation for a great accountant who is familiar with your line of work – you will need one. Depending on the type of job you’re doing, a consult with a lawyer may be necessary also. And depending on how you finance your business, you may need to speak with your bank or a debt consolidation agency such as Mountain Ridge.

What is debt consolidation, anyway?

Debt consolidation refers to a refinancing process where you take out one large loan in order to pay off a myriad of others. For example, if you have three different credit cards that have all amassed debt, you might choose debt consolidation through a company such as Mountain Ridge in order to pay off the three credit cards and consolidate all of the payments into one loan coming from one place.

Why choose debt consolidation?

The goal of debt consolidation is to obtain a lower interest rate in order to make debt repayments more manageable, and streamline all the loans into one single payment so that it’s easier to keep track of everything – for example, you might have a hard time keeping track of your loans if you have several, and run into issues with late payments simply because you forgot one or misplaced a bill notice.

Is debt consolidation right for me?

I take debt very seriously, and encourage great caution and thought before amassing any debt or taking out any loans. It’s crucial to seek advice from professionals to find out what the best course of action is for your unique situation. Read up on the topic, do extensive research, and talk to others who have consolidated their debt. With careful consideration, you can ensure that whatever decision you make will be the most fiscally responsible and beneficial to your budding business.

Taxes

Self-employment taxes: One of the least fun parts of running your own business!

Consolidating debt is just the first step

Something important to keep in mind is that funding the launch and growth of your business is just one aspect of the financial management you’ll need to do. Will you have employees and a payroll? Are you prepared to do bookkeeping, or are you hiring someone else to do that? How will you manage taxes? After all, you’re the boss, so you’re the one withholding your own tax payments now – so you definitely need to make sure you think about that before you get sticker shock from a huge tax bill! Be honest with yourself, and dig deep; many businesses fail because they are poorly thought out. Don’t set yourself up for failure or take on debt that you can’t afford. As your mother always used to say, look before you leap!

Affirmations & coffee

Encouragement & coffee: Two very important things for any business owner!

Self-employment can be very challenging, but also very rewarding. The more prepared you are, the better you’ll do in your venture, so take your time – good things come to those who wait!

So tell me, readers: Have you ever used a debt consolidation company like Mountain Ridge before? What was your experience like? Tell me in the comments below!

Helpful Hints For Buying Your First Home

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Helpful Hints For Buying Your First Home
This is a sponsored post.

Buying your first home is an overwhelming process with a lot to consider – and a lot at stake. Thinking about taking the leap? Here’s a few helpful hints to get you started:

Get Your Finances in Order

The biggest challenge in purchasing your first home is affording it in the first place. There are a myriad of factors at play, from increased housing costs to the large amount of student loan debt that most Millennials now carry. Each prospective homeowner has their own unique circumstances to consider, such as their personal credit history, job prospects, and whether or not they will have any financial assistance from family. There’s a lot to consider, so it’s important to weigh your options carefully and take your time – don’t rush into anything without having all the facts. If you’re in the Sunshine State, mortgage brokers such as The Associates Home Loan of Florida can provide information on a variety of different home loan options, including for unique circumstances such as being self-employed. Do exhaustive research and talk to as many different people as you can so that you can best weigh what path to home ownership is most right for you.

Look Carefully For Hidden Costs

Figuring out how you’ll finance your first home is just the first step. Now your challenge will be to find the right thing that fits your budget. Whether you buy a brand new home or a fixer-upper will almost always be determined by your budget, but if you’re purchasing the latter, it’s really important to consider how much work the home will need. A good rule of thumb is that home renovations will always take longer and cost more than expected, so it’s vital that you factor this into your budget. You also have to consider the time involved with renovations and how feasible that will be when considering the other demands on your time. Even if you buy a pristine house that was built last month, homeownership always involves a lot of maintenance and repairs, which just goes up exponentially with the age and condition of the home. Being a homeowner is a lot of work no matter what!

Research The Area

Once you’ve done the financial legwork to start on the path to home ownership, it’s time to start looking at actual houses that could become your home. While we’ve talked at length about researching the property itself, it’s also crucial to do your homework on the neighborhood you’re moving to. If you’re buying a house in the same city that you live in, this isn’t as big a concern, but if you’re moving to a new area altogether then you’ll want to do your homework. Even the most picture-perfect neighborhood can have drawbacks you wouldn’t expect. Ask yourself questions such as: What is the crime rate in this area? Is this home vulnerable to flooding or tornadoes? Is this a good location in terms of school districts, grocery stores, and/or commuting to work? You can’t anticipate everything, but spending some time imagining the day-to-day realities of living in your potential new home can help you identify red flags.

Storytime: My Most Ridiculous Injury

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This is a sponsored post.

What’s The Most Ridiculous Way You’ve Ever Injured Yourself?

There’s one specific instance that stands out above the rest for me, and as with most ridiculous things in my life, it ties into blogging. Years ago, I was invited to test out a new exercise product. I’m not going to say the name of the item, because they aren’t to blame for my clumsiness, but the best way I can describe the product is that it was like a modern version of a ’90s toy, designed for fitness purposes. Do you remember Skip-It? This product worked in a similar fashion in that you tied a tether around your ankle in order to hop over a ball. This was designed by a fitness company for adults specifically – they had no affiliation with the retro toy, but it gave me immediate nostalgia anyway. It arrived around the beginning of a new year, so I thought it would be a fun way to “Kick” off my New Year’s Resolution of working out more.

I eagerly strapped the apparatus around my left ankle, ready to bring back some memories and get into great shape in the comfort of my own home. I swung the ball and begun hopping, but didn’t even make it past one full rotation before I tripped over the ball and fell completely backwards, crunching my ankle as I landed. As I sat on the hardwood floor collecting myself, I knew I had injured my ankle and wasn’t sure if I’d be able to stand up. Fortunately, Jai was upstairs, so I sent him a text saying something like “HELP” since I wasn’t sure if he would be able to hear me calling out to him. (Texting an SOS – now that’s something you couldn’t do in the ’90s!)

Jai helped me up, and we looked at my swollen ankle and both agreed I needed to go to urgent care. As coincidence would have it, while we were in the waiting room we ended up sitting next to a friend of ours, who happened to be in urgent care because he had hurt his foot as well, so there must have been something in the water that day. An x-ray immediately showed that my ankle was sprained, so I was given a splint and sent home. Luckily, since this happened right after Christmas, Jai had received socks featuring great works of art as a present, so I stole his Edvard Munch pair as the perfect fashion accessory for my splint…

The Scream

Personal Injury: Not a Laughing Matter (Usually)

While the sprain was painful, I couldn’t help but laugh at the ridiculousness of a blogger injuring herself by trying to review a fitness product inspired by a ’90s toy. You couldn’t make it up if you tried! This was a minor inconvenience resulting from my own silliness, but personal injury is not usually a laughing matter. Even relatively minor injuries can cost you a huge amount in medical bills as well as missed time from work. This is simply annoying when it’s a silly accident from being a klutz (like me!), but when an injury is the result of someone else’s actions, it’s a very serious situation. That’s why personal injury lawyers like Kinney, Fernandez & Boire exist – to defend people from crazy situations that aren’t their fault. This firm has several offices across Florida and work on personal injury cases ranging from car accidents to animal attacks – so if your neighbor has an pet alligator that bites you, you know who to call! Sounds crazy, but as my story proves, anything can happen in this life. 😉

So, tell me readers: What’s the silliest way you’ve ever hurt yourself?

4 Tips For Female Entrepreneurs

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This is a sponsored post, and contains my Amazon Associates link.

As a #GirlBoss who is now 22 years (!!) into my career, I often get asked for job advice by other women. I really enjoy encouraging other female entrepreneurs, and while I could talk for hours on this topic, today I’m distilling it down to four simple things I’ve observed over the years.

#1: Beware Burnout

Burnout is a pitfall that I think most business owners face at one point or another. We’re all stressed and overextended, but it’s worth remembering that women have unique considerations in burnout, including the persisting social expectations for women to do the bulk of household management even when working the same number of hours as their male partners. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so I’d recommend putting some burnout strategies into place before the wheels fall off: Perhaps start by reading a book such as High-Octane Women: How Superachievers Can Avoid Burnout, so you can more quickly recognize and address the signs of burnout.

#2: Don’t Undersell Yourself

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard my female colleagues undersell themselves. When asked about their job, I’ve listened to so many female bloggers reply something to the effect of “Oh, I’m just a mom, and I have this little blog thing…” These aren’t ladies who have a side hobby; these are women who earn a full-time income from their blog, have signed contracts with some of the biggest brands on the planet, and are being routinely invited to red carpet Hollywood premieres. How many men with that kind of resume would refer to themselves as “Just a dad“? Don’t be afraid to take your accomplishments seriously – it will make others take them more seriously, too.

#3: Stand Your Ground

We all know that successful people often fail many times on their way to their goals – but women are also at risk of experiencing the special sting of being overlooked due to gender. Not all men, of course, but if you are a woman who exists on this planet, I can guarantee you will encounter a sexist person at least once in your life. As a female entrepreneur, you may experience condescending treatment, sexual harassment or even lose an opportunity you are qualified for strictly due to your gender. Get mad, and then get even: Because the best revenge of all is success.

#4: Take Inspiration From Your Community

Networking is crucial for building your business, and it also gives you the opportunity to connect with other female entrepreneurs. Any time I attend a blogging event, I relish the chance to chat, brainstorm and commiserate with other women in my field, which has resulted in amazing friendships in my personal life as well as moral support on the job. And beyond your immediate community, it can also be useful to look to female role models who have found success on large platforms. Whether you’re flipping through a copy of Sheryl Sandberg’s famous book, or reading the blog of Origami Owl CEO Chrissy Weems, it can be helpful to draw inspiration from highly successful women.

#GirlBoss

What tips would you share with another #GirlBoss?

3 Tips For Taking The Best Vacation Photos Ever

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This is a partnered post.

If you’re planning the vacation of a lifetime, you’ll want to get some great pictures to remember the trip by and share with friends. If you want to up your photography game and start taking better pictures, then check out these three tips for taking awesome vacation photos!

Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight, England

Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight, England

Tip #1: Choose your gear

Back in the day, taking snapshots of your vacation meant you had to pack a 35mm camera in your suitcase – and you also had to try to remember to take those rolls of film out before putting your bag through the x-ray machine at the airport! But photography in 2018 is a whole other ballgame. Smartphones make it effortless to snap photos without bringing any gear at all, and most phone cameras take decent quality photos – so should you even bother to bring a separate digital camera with you when traveling? The answer depends completely on the type of trip you’re going on.

If you’re heading on a backpacking trip or just need to pack light in general, then you’ll probably want to ditch the camera and stick with just your phone. A DSLR takes up extra space in your carry-on baggage, so if you’re looking to pack efficiently, using your phone to take all your photos is the way to go. You also have to think about the type of activities you’ll be doing: If you’re going to be spending a lot of time hiking or doing other outdoorsy activities, you’re not going to want to lug around a big camera with you.

On the other hand, if you have the space to pack extra equipment, really enjoy photography as a pet hobby or are going somewhere visually spectacular, that changes everything! For example, you might be going on a cruise where you can stow your camera in your room and grab it for specific photo-ops, like whale watching; or maybe you’re taking a road trip to the Grand Canyon and have plenty of room to carry your camera in the trunk of your car. Take a few minutes to think about where you’re going and what you’ll be doing, and pack accordingly!

Tip #2: Learn the basics

All the gear in the world isn’t going to help you if you don’t know how to use it! In order to make the most of your DSLR camera, you’ll need to dive in and learn what its various settings do. I recommend hitting up YouTube and doing a search for beginner’s tutorials on your specific camera model – this will help you find demonstrations of how your camera works and explanations of common terms. Even if you’re just sticking to a smartphone for your vacation pics, a greater understanding of photography composition will help you improve those snapshots.

Tip #3: Stay in the moment

Photographing your trip allows you to preserve memories forever. But don’t forget to actually experience the moment while you’re there! It’s easy to get so absorbed in your phone that you miss life happening right in front of you. So by all means, snap some Instagram-worthy shots of your fab holiday – then put the phone back in your pocket and actually enjoy the vacation while you’re on it!

How to Make Zoodles

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This is a sponsored post, and contains my Amazon Associates link.

I attended the International Food Blogging Conference back in 2014, and it was full of inspiring food bloggers, photographers, and chefs who have turned their passion for food into a rewarding career. There are so many unique paths to success in our social media age, from food-blogger-turned-TV-star Pioneer Woman to chefs like Bill Bronchick who mentor other entrepreneurs in the business side of food. And now that the Internet allows us to get a peek into the kitchens of food writers around the world, it’s opened up the door to a world of new recipes and ideas that would have never occurred to me while thumbing through my old cookbooks…like zoodles!

Zoodles and meatballs

I became a big fan of low-carb eating last summer while getting ready for my wedding. I did Whole30 in the leadup to wedding gown shopping, and it was really insightful to learn how much bloating processed carbs cause me. I’m a big carb fiend, so it’s been really helpful to find filling alternatives to some of my favorite dishes. I adore pasta, so I’ve become a huge fan of zucchini noodles, AKA “Zoodles” – they’re so tasty, and hit the same satisfying spot for me that a big old bowl of pasta does – but with way less calories and carbs! Here’s my no-fuss method for making a tasty zoodle dinner:

Easy Zoodles Recipe

Making The Zoodles:

I received this great spiralizer as a wedding last year, and I have become hooked on zoodles! It’s so quick and simple to whip up a batch of zoodles – I’m notoriously basic when it comes to weeknight dinners, because I just don’t have the energy to go to much of any effort after a long day. But even I can handle zoodles! Just chop the end off your zucchini, stick it in the spiralizer, and turn. Hey presto! You have zoodles! It’s super fast, and the spiralizer cleans up quickly – two big “Musts” for me. To cook, I spray a frying pan with zero-calorie cooking spray and add the zoodles, and cook until soft.

Making The Sauce:

I’ve been using O Organics Roasted Garlic pasta sauce recently, and it’s really good! You can heat the sauce up on the stove by itself, or throw in some additions: The first time I used this sauce, I added some frozen turkey while heating it up to create a meat sauce. I often prepare ground turkey in my slow cooker and throw some into the freezer for easy meals later. In this particular instance, I had some cooked ground turkey in the freezer that I had cooked with some hot sauce. I tossed the frozen turkey into the pasta sauce and cooked it on the stovetop until everything was heated evenly.

Zoodles with meat sauce

Making The Meatballs:

In a large bowl, add the following ingredients:

  • 16oz package Jennie-O Italian Seasoned Ground Turkey
  • 1 egg
  • Chopped white onion (to taste)
  • Minced garlic (to taste)

Wearing disposable gloves, mix the ingredients together thoroughly with your hands, and once completely mixed, roll the mixture into small meatballs – you’ll end up with roughly 8 or 9. Bake at 350 degrees – I used my MEATER digital meat thermometer to judge when they were done, but it was very fast – less than 15 minutes.

Zoodles

Helpful timing hint: If I pop the meatballs in the oven, then turn on the zoodles and sauce, everything is done at the exact same time. Timing is always the hardest part when cooking several items at the same time, so I was very pleased with myself here. 😉

Have you ever tried zoodles?

Capturing Wedding Memories With Canvas On The Cheap

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Product provided for review.

For our wedding last August, Jai and I enlisted local Portland photographer Jason Hill to shoot the event, and the photos are wonderful! There were so many “Frame-worthy” shots that I have about 10 different photos that I want to get blown up on canvas to display in the house. This has been a gradual process, as canvas prints can be expensive, so I’ve been keeping my eyes peeled for coupons and deals – which is why I was intrigued by Canvas On The Cheap!

Family portrait

Family portrait by Jason Hill Photography – click to view full size

Canvas On The Cheap strives to offer quality canvas printing at affordable prices. I was offered the chance to create a 16″ x 20″ canvas for review, and I was eager to see how their product would stack up! For this canvas, I decided to use a family wedding portrait of Jai and I with my aunt and uncle. I’m working on having all of our family portraits blown up so we can display them in our dining room, so this seemed like a great place to start!

The process of creating your canvas is very easy. You upload the photo that you want to use, and their web tool allows you to reposition, crop, flip, and zoom in on the image. I knew I wanted to zoom in so that the canvas would be a closeup of everyone, which was very simple to do; I then carefully moved the image to exactly where I wanted it in the frame, so that the background flowers and trees were still visible, since I knew that would create such a pretty border around the subjects in the photo, especially with the beautiful lighting effects. I got the image exactly how I wanted it and selected a “Mirror image” wrap, so that the edges are printed with a reflection of the image, which was my preference rather than stretching the image across all four sides. My canvas was then ready to go, so I added it to my cart and ordered it!

My Canvas On The Cheap

My Canvas On The Cheap!

The canvas arrived in a timely fashion and was packaged carefully to protect the contents. The print turned out absolutely perfect! It looks exactly the way I wanted. The image is represented beautifully; photos really don’t do justice to how the colors look on the canvas in person. The canvas really highlights the crisp detail of the image – it looks beautiful on the wall and is the perfect way to preserve this once-in-a-lifetime memory with my family, who traveled all the way from England to be with us on our wedding day.

Closeup of the mirror image canvas wrap

Closeup of the mirror image canvas wrap

If you want a beautiful canvas print for your home, I certainly recommend Canvas On The Cheap. The cost of a 16″ x 20″ print such as this runs $17.60, and shipping is under $15, so there is no need to spend hundreds of dollars on the equivalent elsewhere!