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How to Save Money on Your Homeowners Insurance in Florida & Beyond: How to Lower Your Homeowners Premiums & How I Saved Over $1,000
If you are one of many homeowners who felt a near-electric shock when opening your most recent insurance renewal, you are not alone. Insurance rates are skyrocketing, especially in states like Florida where premiums are rising at double and even triple rates. And no, "triple" is not a typo now that exorbitant insurance rate hikes have become the "new normal." Adding fuel to this fire, many homeowners are finding themselves suddenly uninsured after being dropped by their insurer -- often without ever having filed a single claim. Even if you are one of the lucky ones who has not yet been "ghosted" by your carrier, your latest policy renewal might…
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How to Make A Bromeliad Kokedama Hanging Moss Ball for A Beautiful Vertical Garden
If you have a bromeliad and are looking for a fun, creative way to display your epiphyte plant in the "open air" as nature intended, let me introduce you to Kokedama. In simple terms, Kokedama is the Japanese art of growing plants suspended in a ball of moss. Kokedama lets you turn your air plants, including bromeliads, into eye-level works of art by growing them in what is essentially a hanging vertical garden. Visually captivating yet easy for both the experienced and novice gardener alike, the resulting garden is beautifully tropical yet low-maintenance -- provided you have the right plants and conditions. Since Kokedama is not for every plant or…
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How to Make Beautiful Hanging Flower Baskets Like Disney Using Coconut Coir Liners: 11 Tricks for Amazing Flower Baskets
If you have ever been to Disney, you may have noticed hanging flower baskets that are basically big, gorgeous orbs of flowers with no visible baskets in sight. Full and lush, such bountiful blooms are similar to the stunning flowers that grace balconies in Bavaria. Either way, the look may seem impossible to achieve at home unless you are a professional gardener. Believe it or not, there are simple pro tricks to help you recreate such stunning hanging flower baskets in your own yard. One of which is that underneath those mammoth flowers, there is often a coconut coir fiber liner supporting them. This is just one of the secrets…
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Can You Write Your Own Will? Plus, Why You Need A Will Even If You Think You Don’t
A last will and testament may be the least desirable conversation topic, but the fact is that a will determines what happens to all your earthly possessions and even your body upon your death. In recent chats with middle-aged friends, I learned that not one of them has a will-- despite having plenty of assets. As it turns out, their situation is quite common. A recent Gallup poll finds that slightly less than half of U.S. adults, 46%, have a will to express how they want their money and estate to be handled after their death. Whether the potential cost is prohibitive or just sheer procrastination, the fact is that…
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How To Transfer Photos From iPhone To USB Flash Drive & Free Up Space On Your Phone – No Cloud Necessary
If you don't rely on "cloud" storage, this scenario has likely happened to you. You go to capture that once in a lifetime photo or maybe just your cat being extra cute. Suddenly, instead of capturing the fleeting, magical moment, you are greeted with the message, "iPhone storage is full." Even worse, if you don't have "cloud" storage, your phone is no longer updating. Without updates, your apps no longer work, and you may even find that you are not receiving some text messages. Yes, that seems to be another unfortunate consequence of not updating your iPhone. Now that your state-of-the-art smart phone has been rendered about as useful as…
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How To Decorate A Room With High Ceilings For Christmas
An icy chill grips the air... frost is on the windshield, and Halloween is over. This can only mean one thing - it's time to decorate for Christmas, of course. Christmas, the holiday season, and the winter solstice are all nearly upon us, so it is definitely time to deck the halls. These days, however, our "halls" often include high, vaulted or cathedral ceilings. While this feature of modern homes makes rooms feel extra large and open, ultra-high ceilings can pose challenges when it comes to holiday decorating. On the bright side, all that extra space provides plenty of canvas to project your greatest Christmas and winter wonderland fantasies. Let's…
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How To Grow Your Own Garlic This Winter For Amazing Flavor & Health Benefits
In my recent post October Garden Chores: Essential Fall Tasks In Your Garden, I discuss how autumn is prime-time for gardeners in many locations to sow cold weather crops. While many think of fall as a time for harvest only, cold weather crops, including garlic, should be planted now to ensure an abundant summer crop. In just a few short months, planted cloves will yield a fresh crop of spicy, earthy garlic bulbs in time to flavor your summer culinary creations. By planting your own garlic, not only do you get a flavor-packed powerhouse, but you get a nutritional powerhouse as well. Recognized for having some of the greatest natural…
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Best Healthy Homemade Coffee Creamer Made Naturally – No Trans Fats, Easy, Delicious
Even if you are not a coffee drinker, the many enticing flavors of creamer on the market are enough to drive you to drink - coffee, that is. From French Vanilla to Caramel Macchiato to seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice, the options are endless. There are even candy bar flavors like Snickers. And if you are a coffee drinker, well, I'm sure nothing comes between you and your favorite flavor. But, if you have ever read the ingredients label, you may have been horrified to discover exactly what goes into your favorite creamer. Sugar, artificial additives and processed oils..? If you do a little research, you will find that many…
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What Is This White Fuzz On My Hibiscus? How To Rid A Hibiscus Of Mealybugs
Have you noticed your hibiscus has stopped blooming and is experiencing yellowing and dropping leaves? If your hibiscus is struggling, the root cause can seem like a mystery. However, upon closer inspection, if you observe a white cotton or wool-like substance has attached itself to your plant's buds, stems or leaves, your hibiscus is most definitely under attack. This particular "fuzzy" blight tends to cluster in tight crevices where hibiscus branches meet, as well as at leaf junctures and around buds. While this strange "fuzz" may resemble mold or fungus, it is actually something else entirely. Let's find out exactly what is feeding off your hibiscus, and most importantly, how…
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October Garden Chores: Essential Fall Tasks In Your Garden To Savor The Season
Spring and summer may be celebrated for their colorful flowers bursting with new life but October is truly a tapestry of vibrancy even as life slows in anticipation of winter darkness. The dropping temperatures in the march toward winter make October one of the most delightful times to be outside, savoring the season, especially as rapid changes take place altering the garden landscape. Low humidity and brisk, fresh air makes otherwise tedious garden tasks of harvesting and clean-up that much more enjoyable. Not to mention, the kaleidoscope of Fall colors that is the changing leaves and vivid Fall flowers. Let's take a look at a few essential October garden "chores"…