Friday, December 28, 2018

A Year of Books

2018 is almost over, and it's about time for me to start working on my book list for the year. Since I keep track of all the books I've read - and the ones I want to read - over on Goodreads, I already know how many books I've read this year. It's been a pretty good year, judging by the number of individual titles I've read. What I won't know until I go back through all of them is how many pages I've read and how many hours I've listened. That's probably a clearer indication of how much I've read than the actual number of books.

Stack Of BooksNow if I could only actually get to reading more of those books on my Want to Read list...

That particular list just keeps getting longer and longer, but that didn't stop me from signing up for my friend Ruth's Reading Recommendations, 2019. I already pay attention to what she's reading on Goodreads, so I know there will be some really great books recommended every month. The question is - will my to read list just get longer, or will I actually read some/a lot/most of the books she recommends? I guess we'll see.

If you're interested in some great recommendations, be sure to sign up for the monthly email.

Now, I need to run on over to Goodreads and finish up some ratings and reviews so I'll be ready to post my 2018 Book List.

(see previous book lists here)



Wednesday, December 26, 2018

How to Help Out Someone Who is Mourning a Death

Knowing that someone you care about has recently lost a loved one can be very upsetting. You might know that there is nothing that you can do that can truly take the pain away, but you still want to help in some way. Here are a few things you can do to bring a level of comfort:
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  • Send Flowers to the Funeral
    One popular way to show support to someone who is mourning the loss of a loved one is to send funeral flowers Brookfield IL. You can contact a local florist to find out more about the different flowers or plants that you can send to the funeral home for the service. Be sure to respect the wishes of the family. Sometimes donations to a scholarship fund for the surviving children or donations to a charity may be requested in lieu of flowers.
     
  • Bring Them Food
    Even though your grieving loved one might not feel much like eating, it's important for him or her to do so. Someone who is mourning the loss of a loved one might not feel like cooking or going out to get something to eat so you can help by bringing food. You can prepare food yourself, or you can pick up something from a local restaurant. Either way, the hot meal is sure to be appreciated. Stocking up your loved one's refrigerator and freezer with food that can be eaten later and even bringing along paper plates and other necessities can also be very helpful.
     
  • Help with Child Care
    Taking care of children can be challenging at even the best times, and it can be even harder when someone is going through the grieving process. If you volunteer to babysit for even a little while, this can help take a big load off of your loved one's shoulders during a difficult time.

Helping someone who is grieving can be very hard to do, but there are ways that you can help. The tips above are great for helping someone who has suffered the loss of a loved one.

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

That'll Teach Them to Steal Packages!

Glitter is evil. It's exactly what those people deserved.


Have you ever had a package stolen off your porch? Thankfully I'm usually home, and our porch is shielded from view, so we haven't had that problem. But, wow - I would really want to do something to the people who would dare to do something like that.

I've also seen the posts going around that recommend putting some of your old junk into Amazon boxes and putting them out on the front porch for the porch pirates. Might be a convenient way to get rid of some stuff you don't want...

Monday, December 17, 2018

How to Get the Best Deal for Your Auto Insurance

Saving Cash with Budget Car InsuranceAuto insurance is a necessary thing, something that we're all required to have if we're going to drive. It can also get expensive, especially if you stick with one company and never shop around. One of the best ways we've found to save money on our auto insurance - besides paying for the policy annually instead of monthly (or even every 6 months) - is to find an agency that represents multiple insurance companies. Every year, they review our policies and select the ones that give us the best deal.

Below are a few things to keep in mind when searching for the best deal on your car insurance rates.

  • See If You Qualify for Good Driver Discounts
    Take full advantage of any type of discount that is offered, whether it's a good student, good driver, military, or any other savings plan. Saving a few dollars each month can add up over the calendar year. Make sure you add the information about low mileage use if you are only taking your car around the local area.
  • Only Purchase the Coverage You Need
    Don't opt for coverage that you might never use. Adding excessive amounts of property and medical coverage can hurt your wallet in the long run. Weigh out carefully whether your car is worth enough to carry full coverage insurance. It might be better to stick with liability only if your car is older and in less-than-perfect condition. (this is one area that could possibly save us some money because our vehicles are several years old, and should something happen, the amount the insurance will pay will be far from enough to purchase a new vehicle)
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  • Do you qualify for multiple vehicle savings?
    Including more than one vehicle on your insurance policy will get you automatic savings with most companies. Adding two or more vehicles will reduce the price you would pay for each one separately. Also consider insuring your home and your vehicles with the same company for multi-policy discounts.
  • Get Quotes from Several Companies
    Not all companies charge the same rates. Gather up several quotes to make a comparison. Take the time to investigate how people review the quality of each company. It might be worth paying a few extra dollars if you have faster claims and better customer service.

Find the auto insurance Orlando FL residents count on to give the best rates and top service in the area. Don't get caught without the right type of insurance for your vehicles.

The Importance of Roof Maintenance

Your roof is the most important system in your home. This is one of the reasons why when people talk about their home, they refer to it as a roof over their head. The roof is designed to protect your home from damage, protect your property from damage, and provide shelter to the home’s occupants.

There are a wide range of roofing materials that you can use on your home. They include things like asphalt, slate, concrete, and granite. The type of roofing material you will select depends on the style of your home and the structural strength of your roof. Certain materials, like slate and concrete, are very heavy. If your roof is not properly reinforced, it might not be able to support the weight.

Most roofing material does an excellent job protecting your home from storm damage. However, during severe storms, your roof is liable to sustain to damage. There are certain things that you can do to give your roof the extra support it needs to endure a severe storm.

One of the best things that you can do for your roof is to stay up-to-date with the repair and maintenance of your roof. If there is a small defect or a small amount of damage on your roof and you do nothing about it, the damage is going to get worse. When a storm comes, the area of damage will be a weak point that could lead to the complete collapse of your roofing system.

Identify roof leak before causes serious roof damage
Roof repair Beaverton Oregon professionals understand that giving your roof the maintenance it needs requires vigilance on your part as a homeowner. A small leak may go unnoticed for some time. Then it can explode into a large leak that causes serious damage, especially when a storm hits. This underscores the importance of being vigilant and monitoring your roof for signs of damage, such as missing shingles, missing granules, and signs of leaks. The better you take care of your roof, the better your roof will take care of you.