Women’s health and fitness issues have become a major part of our mindset. Many of the programs that are designed to promote women’s health and fitness are structured at gyms and other fitness clubs.Some of the fitness workouts utilize yoga and other stretching techniques, and these workout classes are able to afford women of all ages the opportunity to achieve a healthier lifestyle.Women have become much more aware of their bodies and have engaged in more physically activity. There are exercise classes that are specifically designed for women at many community centers and gyms. Most of these classes offer programs that increase flexibility and strengthen cardiovascular function. Some of the more popular programs include Pilates, yoga, spinning, stepping, and dance.There are also health and fitness classes for women that incorporate elements of body building and weight lifting. Women have been involved in some of these types of exercises in the past, but these classes are now gaining more participants on a weekly basis.One of the reasons that women may have been reluctant to participate in classes such as weight training is that they may be concerned about developing muscles. Many women may be worried that they will start developing large biceps and leg muscles. But this is not the case.Although there are many professional female bodybuilders who do indeed have extremely pronounced muscles, they workout specifically for the world bodybuilding championships.Women’s weight training will help tone the body and offer more definition to muscles without increasing and adding large bulk.If you wish to learn how to incorporate some good bodybuilding and weight training methods into your fitness routine, check out the local gym in your area and find a professional instructor. He or she can teach you how to use the equipment properly, and develop safe and appropriate techniques to help you realize your fitness goals.
Here’s something most property investors won’t know when they first start out investing in property….. Close to half of them will sell up in the first 5 years!That’s right. Whilst many first time investors originally buy an investment property to secure and develop financial freedom, they fail!So what went wrong for them and how do you avoid following in their footsteps?1. The first and absolute most important reason is they didn’t start off with a plan, research or get professional help When buying an investment property you will need to do your homework and the best place to get advice is from professionals. So talk to your financial planner, your accountant and another really good way to learn is the web, so get online and do some reading. From the web you’ll be able to access lots of opinions, ideas, concerns and possibilities from which you should take notes and use as reference once you are ready to start investing. Talking to family and friends who own or have owned investment properties can also provide another way to research property investment, as many of them will tell it to you ‘exactly the way it is’ from their own experiences. You may hear things like “we had the worse tenant and they never paid rent” or “I would never buy a property because all we did was spend money fixing it all the time” or even “I couldn’t believe how much the property really cost us out of our own pockets”. All of these points need to be taken into consideration and plans need to be set up so you don’t have the same issues they did.In fact, it’s this time you need to spend looking into the process of buying and owning a property that’s critical. Most people spend more time planning an annual holiday than planning out the purchase of an investment property and their financial future.It’s a great idea to talk to experienced property buyers who’s role is to help first time investors buy property and make the right decisions. A property buyer, or buyers agent will help you in planning your strategy, avoiding pitfalls and achieving property investment success.2. They bought the wrong propertyIf you ask some investors why they purchased their property you’ll often hear them say things like, “it was close to where I lived”, “I read in the paper that it was the place to buy” or even things like “it was where my son wanted to rent so I bought it for him to live in”. Another very common one is that it’s the area they want to live in one day or retire.These are all emotional reasons for buying property and need a lot more thought put into them. Remember, ultimately the property will be an investment and needs to be treated that way so it will need to tick a lot of other boxes and not the ones used here as examples.Some good investment reasons for buying a property are more like a high demand in the area for rental properties, high employment, excellent schooling and good transport in and out of the suburb, and finally the demographics must suit.There is no use buying a house on a big block of land in an area where singles live and work. Another example is that it’s not preferable to buy a 2 storey home in a suburb that has older age group living there.3. They didn’t review the property for growth and suitability to the market.We all know that property is a long-term investment and buying real estate can cost considerable amounts of money initially, however as your property grows in value, the next property you buy may need no money upfront at all. Holding on to and reviewing your investment property value means that the increase in the equity of your first property can now be used to buy your second home and so on.You also need to review the property you have for other reasons, like whether the rent is still at market rate or even ensuring you are updating the property so that it is receiving the maximum rent. Property upgrades could include access to Foxtel, remote controlled garage doors, alarm systems, automated watering system, internet access etc.4. They didn’t manage their riskThe last thing you would ever want is to be forced to sell your home due to unforeseen circumstances. When starting off, the best option is to allow for additional funds to be available just in case. Events such as a major repair, employment change, extended sickness or one of the most common reasons is sudden interest rate rises. All of these events could put you in an uncomfortable situation which may mean that you could be forced to sell your property due to the lack of cash flow to cover the event.Make sure you are ready for the ups and downs of investing in property to ensure that your journey as a property investor is a long and profitable one.Happy Property Investing
So you have heard that starting an online business is an easy and quick way to making money. Well, I’m afraid to tell you that it isn’t a quick and easy way to make money. I don’t know anyone that magically started making money online overnight with no work.Stop worrying about making money online. Stop looking for the magic push button system that magically makes you rich overnight.I’m afraid to tell you that they simply do not exist. If you knew how to make money easily with a few clicks of your mouse would you be selling those secrets for a few bucks?The only way to build a successful online business is to have a clear purpose, what makes you different to your competition, what’s your Unique Selling Point?You need to deliver VALUE, but you need to deliver it differently to everyone else.What is your clear purpose?
What value can you deliver?
How are you different to everyone else?Are you prepared to do that for FREE to start with if needs be?At least until you have proof that your strategies work and what value you can provide.Before you start thinking I have nothing I could teach that would be of value to anyone else, you are wrong.Everyone has something of value. Do you know how to knit, scrapbook, play golf or computer games all of which are very popular, very profitable niches. I discovered a very profitable niche the other day, how to clean and de-clutter your home.Once you have something of value and you have proved that your strategies work, then you can start thinking about charging for that information. But start small; start off by charging a lot less than the value you are going to deliver.Think of any internet marketing millionaires and every one of those started in this way.They found a way of making money online. They actually made the money first over a period of time. Then and only then did they offer to teach others how they made that money online.The first thing you need to learn is that if you try to make money online then you will fail. If you start by giving value in exchange for money then you will start seeing a return on your time investment.So where do you start?I am sure you have heard things like:
The money is in the list.
It’s easier to be an affiliate then a product creator.
You can’t create a product if you’re not an expert.Well.The money is in the list. That is definitely true. But not all lists are created equal.Now once you have worked out that people invest in results you can start to build a buyers list, someone who has actually taken their credit card out and spent some money in order to get access to your knowledge. But, I am sure if you do not class yourself as an expert then you is probably very nervous about creating your own product?Let me tell you something about product creation.No one really talks about this even though it’s very important when it comes to your long term wealth and stabilising your income.You see the only good thing about a J.O.B. is you get a regular pay check come rain or shine.Every month you get paid without fail.It isn’t the same in business. Your money goes up, and your money goes down. Every month, your income fluctuates. So to stabilise your income as much as possible you need to build a buyers list. Why, because a buyers list is you repeat business. The customers that come back and continue to buy from you. This of course only works If and only if you have over delivered the value in the first place. Would you buy more information from somebody who had already over promised and under delivered?The other point of course is a buyer is worth ten times more to you then a freebie seeker.This is why I want you to become or at least consider being a product creator.Think about this…How many lists are you on where you get hit with pitch after pitch, after pitch selling yet another affiliate product?Lots, right?Yeah well, guess what’s happening to their list?It’s getting bored, fed-up and diluted.Think about it.Every time you sell someone else’s stuff you’re going to lose subscribers.Sure some will buy the product (and you get a commission) but they will also sign up to the product owners list. If they like the information they have bought, then they will start to follow and receive emails from the product creator. What do they need you for now?I know this because I’ve done this.But here’s the deal.Now there is competition in the inbox.They get your email and this other guy’s email.Say they read yours. You send another email pitch and guess what…… They join someone else’s list.Your open-rates decline, your emails get read less and less and eventually you become just another email in the spam folder.Sell your own stuff (and you can still send the occasional affiliate promotion) and you’ll deepen the relationship with your list.They’ll get to know you so much better and like your stuff more.Then you can get affiliates to send you traffic and dilute their list instead of yours.So it’s a very good idea to create your own products to stabilise your income online, by building a buyers/repeat customer list. You also utilise other people’s lists by getting affiliates to promote your products for a percentage of the sales revenue. So effectively building your very lucrative repeat customer list for free.
Whether you’re in the market for a major interior overhaul or you’re simply looking to give your home a quick and easy update, chances are you’ve spent some time online hunting for ideas and inspiration. That said, it can be pretty deflating to stumble upon a look you love only to discover the price to achieve it is well above your budget.
Fortunately, there are some killer home decorating blogs that show you how to refresh, revive, and fall in love with your home anew without breaking the bank. For a home that looks far more expensive than it costs to create, check out the following blogs for all of the interior inspiration and DIY tutorials you’ll ever need.
Welcome back to the week 5 update for the One Room Challenge. Check out the blog posts and updates for week 1, week 2, week 3, and week 4 if you missed them. It’s crunch time now and I’ll be honest… I don’t know that this project will be completely wrapped up for the reveal date. The great thing is the reveal and hitting a deadline is not the only goal of reason for this challenge. Ultimately having a fully functional and hopefully beautiful bathroom is where we want to end up even it things are a bit delayed.
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.
When we left off last time the countertops had been templated, the trim was freshly painted and the hardware had been ordered. The hardware took about 1 week to arrive. We chose the Menlo Park 4″ pull from Schlub in chrome because I think the pull has the perfect mix of square and some rounded elements that make it a great transitional hardware option. We went with all pulls for the drawers and doors since the knob option in that line weren’t our favorite.
Guest Bathroom Reno: Quartz Countertops and Grout – One Room Challenge Week 5
The quartz countertops are now installed and things can be put back together. Rectangle, undercount sinks were also purchased through the fabricator. The Marble look quartz from Pental and it is gorgeous with the warm gray veins running throughout. For the edge went for a flat polish eased edge for a clean, simple look.
Guest Bathroom Reno: Quartz Countertops and Grout – One Room Challenge Week 5
Two days after the quartz countertops were installed the tile installer came back to finish up tiling the niches, installing the tile base and grout everything.
Guest Bathroom Reno: Quartz Countertops and Grout – One Room Challenge Week 5
The electoral is being relocated for the new lights. There are some drywall and painting touch ups to do and plumbing fixtures to be hooked up. Plus adding all the finishing touches ???? All those little things like towel hooks, curtain rod, and accessories will bring this whole thing together.
It’s been too long since I’ve updated and even longer since this work has been started. This is me sharing remodel updates, mostly for myself (but also for my nagging family members). I’m sharing photos of the progress that has been made while also document the craziness that has gone on. This is just the beginning of the remodel.
Prior to moving in I had 3-4 weeks where my apartment lease overlapped with the possession of my townhome. This allowed me, with the amazing help of my family, to paint, tear-out carpet and somewhat put back together the upstairs portion of my place so that I could have a clean room to put a bed. At least one that wasn’t completely torn apart. One area that felt more livable that the rest. If you haven’t seen or don’t remember these are the before photos from when I took possession. To list it out here are the main things that I was tacking during those week prior to me moving in.
Phase 1 Remodel Projects
ripping out baseboard, carpet and tack strips upstairs and preparing for new hard surface flooring. (this flooring will go throughout minus the stairs and bathrooms/laundry)
installing flooring upstairs (one of my installers did this)
mostly gutting the master bathroom
installing a new tub and rough in plumbing for the master and powder bath
ordering and installing a rift white oak vanity for the master
Painting (and priming where needed) the ceilings and walls of the bedrooms. Caulking and painting the crown molding in the master
replacing and upgrading the baseboard heater in the master and patch the drywall
painting the hallway and down through the stairwell
adding skirt board to the stairs
installing new carpet and pad on the stairs (my carpet installer from work did this)
removing upper cabinets on the fridge side in the kitchen
partially demoing the wall diving the kitchen (prepare to move switches, outlets, heater and thermostat)
removing drywall on wall next to bar in dining area
painting the downstairs powder bath and removing vanity to prepare for a new floating vanity
Those were the main projects that took place and then I moved in the day after Thanksgiving. Getting rid of the original, nasty cat carpet and new flooring made a huge difference to the upstairs. Also neutralizing and lightening the paint made things feel so much more fresh. I still have no baseboards but I’ll get on that one day! For now here are some photos that I snapped along the way.
It’s been a while since been posting on here but I have some new updates and projects that I have been working on. Last summer into fall I was house hunting while knowing the lease on my apartment would be expiring end of the 2019. It felt a little crazy but was a fun process for me. After a bunch of searching I found and closed on a new home!
I was lucky enough to have a few weeks of overlap with my apartment (I ended up moving out 1 month early) so I was able to get started on projects and updates prior to moving in. I’ll share more about those in the coming weeks (there are still so many unfinished things!) but for now I think it’s best to start with some before photos. Also, follow along on Instagram where I post current project updates more often. The pictures show it in the state I bought it in. It’s a great first place to me and was functional as-is but as you might expect I’m here to make things my own by doing updates that I will enjoy while living here and that will also add value and functionality to the space down the line when I sell… or maybe even keep it as a rental. My dog, Nova, has been enjoying the space as well ???? There are a couple of things to miss about my Bothell apartment but I am very ready to have my own place and space.
In 2017 the guest bathroom was remodeled. You can see more photos and read about that here. Almost everything came out and all new things went back in. From emails and comments people have been asking for sources so I have rounded up what I could in this post to share paint colors, products and links that I could find for the bathroom.
Bathroom Sources and Details:
Wall color: BM Balboa Mist
Trim and door color: BM Chantilly Lace
Floor Tile: Pental Mark Chrome 12×24 matte
Shower tile: Jeffrey Court Weather Gray 4×12 gloss subway
Niche tile: Daltile clio mosaic
Bathtub: Maax Rubix tub
Cabinet: Spencer Cabinets – painted BM Cape May Cobblestone
Countertop: Pental Quartz Misterio polished 3cm
Cabinet hardware: Schaub Menlo Park Pull in chrome
Faucets: Hansgrohe Metris single handle in chrome
Shower trims: Kohler slide bar kit, wall mount supply and Hansgrohe tub spout in chrome
Mirrors: Homegoods
Towel Hooks: Delta Tolva robe hook in chrome