Find Savings with Dealspotr

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If you are a homemaker on a budget like me, then you LOVE to save money.  Each week I look forward to looking through the online circulars to find good deals on must-have grocery, health & beauty, and houseware items.  And I always check for online and in store coupons before we shop for clothing and shoes for the family.  But when you have so many deal blogs, store apps, money saving apps, email ads and coupons, it can actually be a little overwhelming!  Today I’m here to tell you about Dealspotr, a crowdsourced deal site that helps you find coupon codes, online sales and offers. (Use the following access code to become a member: SIMPLYSWEETHOME) [Read more…]

Finding the best route back into education as a parent

Many parents return to college to earn a degree that allows work in their chosen profession, to earn a degree that leads to higher wages, and to earn a degree that facilitates career advancement. Long past the time of toga parties and football games, parents who are students find pursuing a college degree intimidating because it requires juggling parental responsibilities and a full-time job, in addition to budgeting for a college education. However, today’s parents have many options as institutions have become increasingly flexible in their efforts to meet student demand. For today’s parents, the best route to completing a college education and earning a degree can be made much simpler with planning. There are several options available to you and you need to grab them. Many programs are flexible so that you can work and study. You can also look into online courses, such as an online social work degree and many others. Just be sure you pick what works for your current situation.

Before even entering a program of study, parents returning to school should plan for their career goals. Issues to consider include:

  •  Time management—Parents find they have few very hours left available when the working day is over. Raising a family while working full or part time consumes quite a bit of an individual’s time. Completing any educational program requires allocating time during the day just to study. Furthermore, college counselors advise students spend at least two hours per every credit hour studying or working on coursework to be successful in their coursework, making time management a priority an important issue parents must consider when returning to school.
  • Educational Plan—Someone returning to school might consider creating an educational plan. Many parents return to school for a variety of reasons, as stated in the beginning of this article, but students with clear, defined goals are more successful in their academic endeavors if they go into their education with an academic plan that clearly lists the required courses needed to enter a profession.
  • Skills—Knowing the skills needed for a particular career is essential to college success. In fact, some prospective students might find they already have some of the skills necessary to function in the program. If a parent has earned credits toward a degree, for example, getting a transcript evaluation can assess the requisite courses needed for any program. Before this can happen, though, the student should seek counsel from an academic advisor at their chosen institution.
  • Budget—Equally important in pre-planning for college is developing a budgeting for an education. Cost of books and tuition can be quite expensive today. Knowing what type of financial assistance in the form of grants, loans and work-study programs can help parents budget for a college.
  • Preparing for the Classroom—Today’s classroom is a much different place than in year’s past. Dusty chalkboards and dry erase markers have been replaced by learning management systems (LMS) and other technology in the classroom. Many instructors do not give handouts, as many of the lectures are housed online. Prepare by becoming familiar with current computer technology and the current LMS the institution may be using.

Once developing a plan, the step between enrolling for the first class and earning the degree is not so unachievable.

Conversely, many institutions have done their part in making college more accessible for parents. Many traditional programs offer alternative schedules, including online classes. As well as evening classes, some schools offer weekend classes that are Friday evening or Saturday morning. Several programs offer condensed classes that last anywhere between six-eight weeks, so students could, in theory, accelerate their program within a single semester. Also, students who struggle with childcare issues may find many online programs more manageable. Some of the programs are accelerated, so a person can finish a class in as little as just one month. For example, Maryville’s doctorate in education online comprehensive program of study takes as little as 32 months to complete. A plethora of options exist for parents who might find managing an education and a family life intimidating.

When parents return to school, children usually benefit, so the sacrifice in terms of time and money is always worth the effort. Before even attending the first day of class, prepare children for by assigning them responsibilities. If children are old enough, show them how to cook simple meals or how to wash their own clothes, in addition to helping out with other chores in the house. Children will rise to the challenge if they are made to follow a routine that includes free time as well. All of this requires

organizational skills, but when set in place, parents make the challenge of becoming full or part time students less daunting and much more enjoyable for both parent and child.

All You Need To Know About Air Duct Cleaning

Do you happen to own a home? Are you entirely familiar with your home’s heating and cooling system? A lot of consumers familiarize themselves with the thermostat and HVAC unit itself, but few rarely see the ductwork. This can be a major problem, because your home’s ductwork requires maintenance too! DUCTZ of Charleston can help you out with that. In fact, you need to make sure that you carry out an air vent cleaning at least once or twice a year. Air duct cleaning services are specifically designed for this purpose. For information on air duct cleaning and other household services, check out summersphc.com/greenfield/services/indoor-air/duct-cleaning/.  Below, you will learn a great deal more about the practice of home air duct cleaning, its purpose and the necessity.

What Is Air Duct Cleaning?

A lot of homeowners have never even heard of air duct cleaners. They’re not entirely sure what these companies do. So, what exactly is home air duct cleaning and how does it work? As the name suggest, vent cleaning is nothing more than cleaning out the ducts inside of your home. Air duct cleaning companies utilize a lot of high-tech gear to extract the dirt and debris from your home’s duct network. Once this is finished, the duct will be free of dirt, debris and dust. This might not seem like a big deal, but the benefits are surprisingly enormous.

How Often Should I Pay For Vent Cleaning?

When it comes down to it, most consumers believe they’ll never have to worry about vent cleaners. They mistakenly believe that air duct cleaning is not that big of a deal. This is not the case. The truth of the matter is that duct cleaning is incredibly important and it should become a habitual maintenance practice for all homeowners. While the price of a vent cleaning service might be a tad expensive, the benefits delivered will make it well worth it in the long run.

On average, consumers should pay for air duct cleaning services at least once or twice a year. Using duct cleaning services at this frequency will help to keep your home’s ducts clean, while simultaneously allowing your HVAC unit to work more efficiently.

How Much Will Air Duct Cleaning Companies Charge?

When it comes to vent cleaning, most companies will be worried about the cost.  A quick search of the best air duct cleaning services near me will give a better idea of costs initially. This is entirely understandable. However, it is essential to remember that the price will differ depending on a number of different factors. First and foremost, you need to realize that different air duct cleaning companies will all charge different prices for their labor. Also, the size of your home can be very important in determining the price. A bigger home will have more duct to clean and vice versa. With this in mind, the best way to determine the price of air duct cleaning for your home is by obtaining a quote from a professional.

What Is The Impact Of Air Vent Cleaning On My HVAC Unit?

In all likelihood, you’ve heard that vent cleaners are capable of making your HVAC unit work more efficiently. This is not a myth. The truth of the matter is that a good vent cleaning service will be able to greatly improve the performance of your HVAC system, while simultaneously removing the burden placed on it. Air duct cleaners will remove the dirt and debris inside of the ducts and in return, this will greatly improve the efficiency and performance of your HVAC system. Once the debris is extracted, your HVAC system will be able to keep your home cool while working a little easier.

Also, the home air duct cleaning will remove stress on the unit itself and this will ultimately increase its service life.

How Long Does Air Vent Cleaning Take?

A lot of consumers will be worried about the period of time that the air duct cleaners will be in their home. Nobody wants to let strangers in their home in the first place. The good news is that air duct cleaning services can be carried out fairly quickly. While it depends solely on the vent cleaners in question, most will be able to get the job done within a few hours at most. Once the crew has entered the home, they’ll create and access point and an exit point. The other vents will be sealed off. Then, the team will connect a vacuum to the exit point and a blower to the entry point.

In this type of scenario, the vent cleaning service providers are capable of extracting the debris without causing a major mess.

What Are The Cost Benefits Of Duct Cleaning Services?

Many people absolutely refuse to pay for duct cleaning services, due to the costs involved. This is truly a major mistake, since these services will ultimately pay for themselves over a period of time. It is pertinent to realize that your HVAC system can operate at maximum efficiency when the ducts are clogged with dirt and debris. Instead, the HVAC system will be required to work harder and longer to keep your home cool. This will ultimately increase your electric bill by a noticeable amount. With this in mind, getting your ducts cleaned can have cost-saving effects in the long run.

Plus, this service is capable of expanding the service life of your HVAC unit and this will help you avoid purchasing a new one in the future.

Is Duct Cleaning Really A Must?

Finally, you should ask yourself whether or not duct cleaning is really a necessity. While it is possible to find conflicting answers out there, there is a simple answer to the question. That answer is yes. All homes and businesses have ductwork. That ductwork is going to become filled with dirt, dust and debris over a period of time. And of course, the only way to remove that debris is by hiring a professional. If you do not clean your ducts on a regular basis, your HVAC unit will work harder, your electric bill will increase, and your home’s air quality will become tumultuous.

When taking this into mind, you should realize right away that duct cleaning is definitely a necessity. All homeowners should make sure that their ducts are cleaned at least annually!

Friday Favorites Linky Party – Week 369

Good evening!  Welcome to this week’s Friday Favorites party!  As always we’ve got a great set of featured posts to share with you.

I also wanted to announce that I’m looking for a couple of new party hostesses for Friday Favorites. If you are a bloggers and would like to help host our linky party each week, please contact me via email (simplysweethome@hotmail.com) for details.  And please be sure to include a link to your blog for my reference.  Thanks!

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Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet HomeTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Christine at Light and SavvyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Maisy at Becoming AliceFB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage PresentsTwitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo BluesTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small ThingsPin

Penny at Penny’s PassionTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas SkyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

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You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week’s favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week’s linky party! [Read more…]

Decorating an Outdoor Area for Summer

Summer weather can be harsh, which means your outdoor area, furnishings and décor need to be able to handle the heat as well as the thunderstorms. This can be a tricky combination as you need to prepare for all weather events, both wet and very, very dry depending on the year. Here are some top tips for decorating your outdoor area this summer.

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Make Room for Guests

One of the most important aspects of an outdoor area is its entertaining capabilities. We just love to entertain, especially outdoors. Barbeques are a way of life so you’ll need a good range to cater for a large crowd and the seating and dining to match. If you only have a small space, put your spend into the barbecue and host informal get-togethers, buffet style.

Weather Proof Everything

You’ll need to consider your specific area when decorating your outdoor living space but it’s almost a guarantee that you’ll experience both wet and dry conditions. Pick fabrics that are weather proof whenever possible. Cushions should be able to handle wet weather while their colour needs to stand up to the harsh sun. Don’t spend a fortune on rain-proof fabrics if the colours are going to fade in the sun after only one season or you’ll be buying again next year.

Likewise, choose sun proof fabrics if you can. If they’re not all weather wear then you’ll need somewhere to keep them when it inevitably rains. If you don’t have the space to store your outdoor

supplies in your indoor linen cupboard or similar, invest in an outdoor chest and storage compartment that doubles as extra seating for your guests.

Lisa Green, Editor in Chief of Australian House & Garden had this to say in an interview with hipages: “Choose furniture that will age gracefully – i.e. aged metal finishes which will patina over time. Or look to the hi-tech weatherproof synthetics that now come in many more sculptural forms, with soft cushioning to match.”

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Durability Over Design

You shouldn’t have to compromise but if your budget doesn’t make room for your favorite design in a durable material, always, always choose durability over design elements. If your chosen design isn’t durable enough to face numerous summers, simply don’t make the purchase. You’ll enjoy one summer only, before you need to buy again. This is especially important when making big purchase decisions, such as your outdoor table and chairs. Certain woods require a lot of maintenance to hold up under the harsh sun, so forego the wooden dining if you’re not up to the task. Instead, opt for metal and glass tabletops that will last many years to come.

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Shading

While certain dining suites require regular maintenance, you can help your aging furnishings by shading your outdoor living area well. You’ll need at least enough shade for you and your guests to enjoy on hot summer days. Whether you choose large table top umbrellas to keep you and your guests cool while you entertain, or invest in canopies to cover your entire outdoor living space, your décor and outdoor furniture will hold up much better in the shade than in constant sunshine.

Friday Favorites Linky Party – Week 368

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Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet HomeTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Christine at Light and SavvyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Maisy at Becoming AliceFB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage PresentsTwitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo BluesTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small ThingsPin

Penny at Penny’s PassionTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas SkyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

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You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week’s favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week’s linky party! [Read more…]

Hill’s Youthful Vitality for Kitty #AwesomeAsEver

 Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Hill’s® Science Diet® and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the new Hill’s® Science Diet® Youthful Vitality pet food for cats and dogs over the age of 7, but Simply Sweet Home only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.
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If you are a regular visit to my blog, then you know that the Simply Sweet Home dog and cats play a huge role in my life.  I love them like children, and I try to do everything I can to make sure they are healthy and happy.  One way I do that is by feeding them good food like Hill’s® Science Diet®.

Rebel Cat

Rebel is my oldest cat.  He just celebrated his ninth birthday! (Happy Birthday Rebel!)  According to the age calculator I found on the Hill’s® Science Diet® website, this makes Rebel 52 years old in human years.

As an older cat, Rebel spends a lot more time lounging and napping than he did in his younger days, and he certainly isn’t the ball of energy our kitten Mina is.  But he still gets around well and has a very happy disposition.  Recently I started feeding Rebel Hill’s® Science Diet® Youthful Vitality.  The food is formulated to give complete nutrition to cats ages 7 and up.  The company also has a similar product for 7+ dogs and 7+ small/toy dogs. [Read more…]

Friday Favorites Linky Party – Week 367

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Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet HomeTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Christine at Light and SavvyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Maisy at Becoming AliceFB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage PresentsTwitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo BluesTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small ThingsPin

Penny at Penny’s PassionTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas SkyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

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You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week’s favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week’s linky party! [Read more…]

Biz: Eliminating Stains and Odors

Disclosure: I am a Biz Ambassador, and this is a sponsored post written in partnership with the brand. All opinions are my own.

Biz Eliminating stains and odors

As a wife and mom I find myself doing laundry almost daily!  To make sure our clothes look their best, I like to use high quality products.  One product that I use is BIZ®..  It is a stain remover and laundry booster and the first enzyme based pre-soak and color-safe bleach.

[Read more…]

Friday Favorites Linky Party – Week 366

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Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet HomeTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Christine at Light and SavvyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Maisy at Becoming AliceFB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage PresentsTwitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo BluesTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small ThingsPin

Penny at Penny’s PassionTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas SkyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

 photo Friday Favorites Featured Button.jpg

You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week’s favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week’s linky party! [Read more…]