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Laminate Vs Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl or Laminate Flooring?
Oftentimes when homeowners think about long-lasting, durable floors for their home renovation projects and new home builds, two flooring solutions are top of mind: vinyl flooring and laminate flooring. These floors are popular as they realistically mimic the look of natural hardwood and stone floors without the hefty price tag. Although these flooring options have been described before as "faux wood flooring" or "fake hardwood flooring," laminate and vinyl both feature technological innovations that make each an outstanding choice, respectively. Whether you're looking to give your home a traditional, rustic look or open up the space with contemporary light wood floors, vinyl, and laminate floors are two dependable, budget-friendly surfaces worth exploring!
Now comes the hard decision: vinyl or laminate flooring? What are the advantages and drawbacks of vinyl vs laminate flooring? And, when thinking about luxury vinyl vs laminate, what are the most important factors to consider?
Let's start with the basics —their material compositions. Laminate flooring is often made from melamine resin and fiberboard material to form a multi-layered synthetic product. Designed to imitate the look of real hardwood, the top layer of laminate has imprinted texture imaging to mimic wood grain patterns and knot detailing. Vinyl is also a 100% synthetic material, but it's made from polyvinyl chloride with various compounds added to influence the color, flexibility, hardness, and sheen of the product.
No matter what type of flooring product you end up choosing, ultimately, you need the style factor you desire to also handle everyday life in an active home. Resilient flooring products have grown tremendously in recent years, and there are unlimited options for affordable and easy-to-install designs. Depending on your performance needs, budget and climate, vinyl plank might be more suitable for your home design than laminate. So, which one is best for your home? Here are some points to help in your buying journey!
Difference between laminate and vinyl?
|Endless Options
|Endless Options
|LVT, Tile, Sheet, Plank
|Plank; Wood and Title Looks
|Good-Extreme Durability
|Good-Great Durability
|Reliable Stability
|Reliable Stability
|Suitable For High Moisture
|Suitable For Topical Moisture
|Glue; Floating Capability
|Floating Capability
|Affordable To Higher Price
|Affordable To Higher Price
|Low Maintenance; Mopping
|Low Maintenance; No Mopping
|Easy Installation; DIY Capability
|Easy Installation; DIY Capability
|No Sealer Needed
|Most Require No Sealer
While a quick view will show that these are somewhat comparable hard surface products, there are nuances to each that will help determine which style you bring home. Let's take a deeper dive into the major difference points for each type regarding key factors:
Both laminate and vinyl will provide the look and durability of wood flooring in rooms not suited well for genuine wood. In addition to handling high foot traffic well, both options are a great fit for active homes with pets because they are resistant to scratches, water, and stains when quickly cleaned up. These characteristics mean that both vinyl and laminate can be used for dining rooms, living rooms, bedrooms, and offices. However, it should be noted again that while some laminate products are water-resistant, vinyl is completely waterproof. In the rooms where moisture protection is needed the most such as kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and mudrooms, waterproof vinyl selections such as Invincible™ H2O™ Luxury Vinyl, the Invincible™ LVT collection, and Invincible XT™ Luxury Vinyl Solidcore will lock out the liquid and be the best fit. Some laminate products are suitable for these areas, but they need to have testing guarantees and product warranties that back up their water-resistant claims. Any room where standing water is likely to occur is not a good fit for laminate flooring! Appropriate laminate products are suitable in areas that may experience spills, but those will need to be quickly cleaned if they occur.
Both laminate and vinyl will offer much greater ease of installation than wood flooring. Laminate flooring can generally be installed as a floating floor for quick installation, where the planks easily 'click' together, and don't require nailing to a subfloor. In fact, laminate can be installed yourself over almost any other flooring material and is easy to repair if needed. LVT is not only a great fit for high moisture, high traffic, and below-grade areas, but it's also easy to install in any room in your home. If you are attempting to install your first DIY floor, LVT is an excellent option. With easy-to-use locking systems for floating floor installations, putting down LVT will not displace rooms in your home like installing a wood floor will. Use wider, longer LVT planks to create the feel of a luxurious genuine hardwood floor when installation is complete. With all DIY installations, make sure to follow instructions carefully to ensure that you do not void your warranty. Check online for manufacturer and retailer instructional videos to help your installation process!
When it comes to ease of maintenance, laminate and LVT will offer homeowners easy, effective clean-up in less time than it takes to maintain a sparkling wood floor. With laminate floors, sweep, dust, mop, or vacuum your floor daily using the hard surface setting to prevent the accumulation of grit from dirt that can potentially scratch the surface. Standing water on laminate flooring can cause swelling and warping, so it's important to wipe up spills quickly. Since laminate floors are not completely waterproof, you will not have the option of wet mopping your floors. Waterproof LVT floors do offer the luxury of wet mopping! In addition to providing a rigid texture for durability, your LVT surface can handle mopping with warm water. Sweep or vacuum your LVT floor as often as possible for easy preventative maintenance. Occasionally when needed, treat your floor with a cleaner made especially for laminate care or vinyl care. Should either your laminate or vinyl flooring get damaged, both types of floors can be easier and quicker to repair than almost all other types of flooring.
As with many decisions that homeowners must make, the cost will often be the ultimate deciding factor. Since solid hardwood is more expensive, both laminate and vinyl will be cost-effective hard surface options. Generally speaking, vinyl can cost as low as $1.00 or even $.50 per square foot for glue-down vinyl flooring and $3.00 to $5.00 per square foot for LVT planks. Similarly, laminate ranges from $1.00 per square foot for thin planks and around $3.00 to $5.00 per square foot for lower-end 12 mm-thick planks. High-quality thick laminate products with valuable certifications will be more expensive, but will also alleviate the concerns that come with discount laminate from international manufacturers that don't have to follow stricter US guidelines. Neither vinyl nor laminate flooring will add as much resale value to your home as solid hardwood, engineered hardwood, ceramic tile, or natural stone floors. However, if you need new flooring to make your home presentable before you sell, laminate and LVT will be excellent, quick options to spruce up the property.
Not to be confused with the vinyl flooring options that originally came to market decades ago, today's vinyl flooring has been revolutionized and has the market growth to prove it! Vinyl falls under the 'resilient' flooring category and true to its label, vinyl flooring possesses toughness and the ability to bounce back under pressure. Featuring elasticity that can handle foot traffic with ease and better cushion dropped items, vinyl flooring options are comfortable underfoot and resist dents and cracks admirably. In particular, Luxury Vinyl Tile has delivered on the performance and fashion of both hardwood and stone at a cheaper price tag, while providing the benefits of resilient flooring.
The key to vinyl's surge in popularity is a winning combination of durability, style, affordability, ease of installation and maintenance, and ultimately, overall versatility. With a variety of formats that make DIY installation easier, builders and designers are using vinyl plank, tile, and sheet to complete projects quicker in both residential and commercial applications. In addition to hardwood, vinyl is also used to emulate the look of natural stone with impressive texture, depth, and realism. Another benefit of designing with vinyl products? They are inherently waterproof! While other flooring types have improved in moisture resistance and protection, vinyl has always been among the best at handling liquid spills. Now that some modern vinyl options have enhanced rigid top layers for greater durability and are suitable for high-traffic areas, there's a great chance that you will find a stylish vinyl option to fit the needs of your home.
Without a doubt, Luxury Vinyl Tile, or LVT, is officially here to stay in the market and in homes across the world. A far cry from the vinyl and linoleum options that some still think of at the mention of vinyl, LVT is delivering on the design front in a major way: Homeowners are praising LVT for its ability to realistically mimic hardwood and stone in the latest, hottest trends. In addition to authentically capturing the look of reclaimed and petrified wood, LVT can also provide the high-end style of marble and travertine. LVT planks come at a much lower price while remaining easier and quicker to install and repair, warmer and softer underfoot, and versatile enough to handle high moisture and high traffic with ease. It's safe to say that LVT has a lot going for it!
Designed to give your floors the appearance of hardwood floors without the cost, vinyl planks offer much greater stain resistance and are much easier to maintain than traditional hardwood planks. Even though vinyl plank is engineered as an economical alternative to real hardwood, this format has improved over time to accurately replicate different wood species, colors, and textures. Whereas natural wood is not a water-resistant flooring type, vinyl planks are waterproof and each individual plank can be sealed to help prevent moisture from seeping through the floor.
Widely acknowledged as a more affordable, easier-to-maintain alternative to wood flooring, laminate flooring is technically a composite wood product with durability dependent on the quality of the construction. Typically, a laminate plank is constructed with a bottom layer to provide stability and moisture resistance, middle layers of synthetic fiberboards for strength and durability, and completed with a rigid top layer that's designed to mimic either hardwood or stone. Laminate planks are coated to protect the printed image and design, which, unfortunately, will prevent homeowners from being able to refinish their floors.
Similar to LVT, the realistic textures and embossing on laminate products have improved over the years, along with the quality of materials and innovation in construction. It should be noted that all laminate flooring options are not created equal: Laminate options on the lower end of the cost range will not perform as well as laminate products with the NALFA (North American Laminate Flooring Association) Certification Seal. Laminate flooring is indeed a budget-friendly choice, but it is wise to spend money on a quality product that can back up its tested claims as opposed to 'the best deal' that you find price-wise. For best results, shop for laminate products that are manufactured in the US to ensure the durable performance needed in your home. While exact pricing will depend on factors including the size of your home, where you live, and of course the product selected, installing laminate floors, on average, costs about half as much or less than the cost of installing hardwood floors. However, as noted before, laminate cannot be refinished and therefore, will not generate the strong resale value for a home like real wood does.
When it comes to handling moisture, laminate flooring is indeed water-resistant but not completely waterproof. Laminate is definitely better suited than hardwood to handle liquid spills, but the liquid that permeates below the surface can cause serious damage like mold and warping. If your laminate flooring is damaged by moisture, it has to be replaced. That being said, many laminate products come with a 10-year warranty, and attentive care will ensure that they serve your home in the 15 to 20-year range.
When you are ready to receive a laminate or vinyl cost estimate, you can submit a Free Estimate Request Form to your local Carpet One Floor & Home store and begin creating your new favorite rooms!
So, now for the big question: which is more expensive —vinyl or laminate? Truthfully, both products are pretty comparable in cost as both are less expensive options than other flooring materials like hardwood or porcelain tile. Vinyl can be pricier, though, especially if you're exploring luxury vinyl options. A good general rule of thumb is as the quality of luxury vinyl products increases, so does the price tag.


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Awhile back I was asked to read and review Think Like a Freak by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner. This is another addition to the very popular franchise of books in the Freakanomics series. If you have no idea what I'm talking about click here. The original book has now expanded into this super cool website with podcasts, lectures, experiments, and yes even a documentary - what? Who knew! Here's a look at the trailer:
Anywho, back to Think Like a Freak. As a bit of a nerd and a person who is fascinated by all things popculture and science-y stuff, I am super into this book thus far. I mean just look at the table of contents:
- The Upside of Quitting
- The Three Hardest Words in the English Language - "I don't know." (epic!)
- What do King Solomon and David Lee Roth have in Common
Seriously. Is this awesome, or what?!
So, when I am done I will post a, so far as I can tell, raving review of this book!
And click here to see why I have been MIA around here for so long! Super excited to announce that I have launched my tarot reading biz. For realz. This is the real deal. And you get my FREE "Soulful Tarot Spreads for Inspired Living" when you subscribe to my newsletter, and all sorts of great insights and tips! I'm on FB and Twitter too. Come by and say HELLO!!
Hope to see you over there!

subset: commoncrawl


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The PC is not dead yet, say readers
The PC is still very relevant to many readers in the face of a large dose of Apple news this week related to the iPhone 5 launch.
Don't dismiss the PC, is the tenor of a lot of the responses to a Saturday post where I addressed the coverage of Apple and the iPhone 5 last week.
"For a working man like me, the PC is a serious piece of machine. It puts food on my table. As for the smartphone, the phone is important. No doubt about it. What makes it smart also turns it into a toy. But a toy is still just a toy," -- that's a pretty typical comment I got.
And another: "Actually, the technology in the computers is very amazing. It just doesn't get the same press coverage because everybody (especially CNET) is obsessed with anything having an Apple logo on it."
Below are summaries or direct quotes of selected readers' comments, with added commentary only if necessary.
Key features and/or tech that keeps the PC competitive as pointed out by readers:
- Games: A reader asked if an iPhone can play Skyrim, Battlefield 3 in high-detail, let alone at all?
- Microsoft Office: The iPhone can't run a full version of Microsoft Office, another reader said.
- Backup: "Some day, my phone may break, get lost or stolen. But my data will be safe at home on my PC with redundant backups. No cloud for me," said SigpistolDude.
- Desktop PC: "The traditional laptop probably is dying, since the primary advantage (over a desktop) has always been portability, and the new devices are better for that. But if I have work to do, I want the best, most powerful tools I can afford. That is a desktop PC, with no compromises for power or portability. Jobs analogy about trucks will hold up," said smallbzznzz.
- Microsoft Surface: "The story starts by comparing media coverage of the iPhone with ultrabooks and then moves to comparing ultrabooks to MacBooks. So, it would seem only fair to compare the Surface's power and features (when it comes out) to the iPhone. Doesn't seem fair or reasonable that way either," said mouseclick.
- Display resolution: For the record, I said that "there is no Windows laptop out there with anything close to the 15.4-inch MacBook Pro's 220 pixel-per-inch (PPI) density Retina display, let alone the iPhone's 326 PPI screen." A reader pointed to the 11.6-inch 1,920x1,080 display on the Asus Zenbook UX21a. That has a PPI of about 189. Good point but still short of the 220 PPI on the MacBook Pro. That said, expect to see more PCs or PC-like devices with Retina-class screens. A version of Microsoft Surface is rumored to pack a 1,920x1,080 retina density into a 10.6-inch display.


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Rule #1 - Be Patient - Rule #2 - Don't ask when, if you don't contribute - Rule #3 - You have coding skills - LinuxMCE's small brother is available: http://www.agocontrol.com
Thank you both. I have disables the flickr screensaver, and my unused ports. I find it hard to believe that such a large community has this kind of elementary problem. Has anyone installed MCE and not had it hang up within a few days?
dcerouter_83086:/home/builds/23-07-2008# uptime 09:11:52 up 49 days, 18:23, 1 user, load average: 0.13, 0.17, 0.20dcerouter_83086:/home/builds/23-07-2008#
Okay, fair enough however....I started with a Dell Precision 380. It hung up in about 2 days, so I went online looked at a few different posts and bought a P5N-MX with a nVidia BFG 6200 OC. And the Hauppage 350 Tuner card. When that hung up after 2 days, I went and decided I STILL must have a hardware issue, so I purchased a P5N 32E SLI, from a recommendation from the hardware part of the wiki, and the Asus EN8400GS Silent, (this was EXACTLY from the hardware wiki) Now that has froze up in two days. So in my defence, I'm not unwilling, lazy, or cheap in trying to purchase hardware, perhaps a little misguided. What are your demo servers running?
One other question is FIC First International Computer?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.aspx?Image=13-130-139-03.jpg%2c13-130-139-04.jpg%2c13-130-139-05.jpg%2c13-130-139-06.jpg%2c13-130-139-08.jpg%2c13-130-139-07.jpg%2c13-130-139-02.jpg&S7ImageFlag=0&WaterMark=1&Item=N82E16813130139&Depa=0&Description=MSI+945+Neo5-F+ATX+Intel+MotherboardIs this what your running at your home?Thanks again to everyone for your help!


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10 Amazing Beauty Products You Need to Know About
Keeping track of the latest and greatest from the beauty aisle can be a daunting task. It's difficult and expensive to try out the latest products and even harder to make a break from a tried-and-true daily beauty regiment. So why not let us do the work for you? We've tracked down our newest favorites in the hair, makeup, and skincare departments to bring you a manageable list of products that we feel are totally worth the hype.
1. Shiseido Bio-Performance Advanced Super Restoring Cream, $99
This brand new cream fights the big three when it comes to aging: sagging, loss of resilience, and wrinkles. The technology comes from over seven years of dermal stem cell research translating into the best part – noticeable results in just one day!
Mother's Day Gifts for Every Mom
Mother's day is approaching fast which brings with it the task of finding the perfect gift for Mom. There are plenty of new products out there that are sure to suit even the pickiest of mothers. I have something unique and special for every type of mom:
1. Foodie Mom Gwyneth Paltrow's New Cookbook – "My Father's Daughter"
I went to Gwyneth's book signing at Barnes and Noble a few weeks ago to pick up a copy of her new cook book to review. Thanks to Glee, we all know superstar celeb Gwyneth can sing, but did you know she can cook? In "My Father's Daughter" she shares her recipes that celebrate family and togetherness. With a foreword by master chef Mario Batali, you know the recipes must be delicious! They are also remarkably easy for even the most gastronomically challenged Mom. Plus, there's something for every palatte from the exotic tuna and ginger burgers to chicken and dumplings to wood oven pizza. I literally want to try every recipe in this book.
Buy Now – $30
2. Fashionable Mom
Rich Rocks Jewelry
Rich Rocks is a fabulous costume jewelry line with a celebrity following that appeals to women of all ages. The cast of Gossip Girl certainly loves their baubles–Blake Lively, Leighton Meester and Kelly Rutherford to name a few. The selection is carefully edited and there is something for everyone. For the classic mom, I love the elegant pair of silver clover hoops (very Van Cleef). The boho Mom will adore the leaf earrings with champagne crystals and the hip Mom would enjoy the oversized hanging smokey dangle earrings. Also, all of the jewelry looks luxe and the pieces have a nice weight to them.
Buy Now – Clover hoops – $75
Buy Now – Leaf earrings – $40
Buy Now – Smokey dangle earrings – $75
Jennifer Miller Jewelry
Another great costume jewelry line and designer who is always on trend is Jennifer Miller. I am crazy about their dog tag necklace engraved with the sentiment, "LUV U MOM." I like this one for the cool Mom who lives in jeans and t-shirts. It also has a yellow gold-plated cut out heart charm disk to add to the style. Made of sterling silver on a 30" stainless ball chain, the necklace looks very substantial and is the perfect Mother's Day gift for Mom from the kids.
Buy Now – $175
3. Pampered Mom L'Occitane Sparkling Verbena Skin Care Set
If you're mom loves the spa, pamper her this Mother's Day with this Sparkling Verbena set from L'Occitane. This kit has everything Mom needs to relax including shower gel, body lotion, a delicious verbena scented sachet, shea butter hand cream and shea butter soap in milk and verbena scent. It even comes with a Mother's Day card. I am a huge fan of these products and use them regularly. It is SO nice when someone buys them for you!
Buy Now – $55
4. Beauty Junkie Mom "All About My Mother" Make-up Gift Pack
Celebrity make-up artist Napoleon Perdis "All About My Mother" gift pack comes wrapped and ready to go in a lovely gift box. The make-up kit includes a cute vintage-inspired coin case with universally flattering shades of eyeshadow, cream blush and lip color. I love the lip color because it is shiny but not sticky and the four color eye shadow palette has the hottest colors of the season. Cream blush is super easy to use and all of the makeup in the kit comes with "how to" instructions (available in two different color palettes).
Buy Now – $49 ($100 value)
5. Techie Mom PhotoOp Ipad Case
If your Mom is anything like me, she never goes anywhere without her iPad. Luckily, PhotoOp makes an iPad case that you can personalize with an adorable photo of the kids. All moms appreciate personalized gifts! Just email PhotoOp the picture you would like to use as a jpeg, and they will send you the ipad case. Available in leather or fabric.
Buy Now – Leather – $150, Fabric – $120 (Call the studio at 212-362-1911 to place an order)
6. Eco-Conscious Mom Recycled Windshield White Wine Decanter from Gifts.com
A sophisticated and modern wine decanter made from recycled auto-glass is the ideal gift for the eco-conscious Mom. What's really cool about this decanter is that it has an open ice chamber that chills wine without diluting it. Every decanter is unique and handmade in Colombia making it a special gift that any Earth-friendly mother will love to have in her home. I would use it as a decorative piece and for chilling ice tea or lemonade!
Buy Now – $55
7. Sentimental Mom TinyPrints.com Personalized Mother's Day Cards
A refreshing break from the ordinary drugstore greeting card, TinyPrints.com offers personalized cards that they even send for you. No need to remember to mail a card on time or waste time trying to choose the right card. TinyPrints custom-made cards are heartfelt and special. Choose the photos, colors, fonts and text to create a card Mom will cherish. Tiny Prints also offers personalized stationary as a gift for Mom. Celebrity fans of TinyPrints include Gwyneth Paltrow, Kelly Ripa, Rachel Zoe, Reese Witherspoon and Brooke Shields.
Buy Now – $1.99 – $3.99 per card
8. Organized Mom (or one who wants to be) PurseN Purse Organizers
Whether your Mom loves to be organized or if your Mom is the type who can't find anything in her purse (sound familiar?), the PurseN purse inserts are a fashionable and functional gift. These organizers make it easy to change from purse to purse without leaving behind any of your go-to items and keep bags clean. The inserts make Mom's life easier with compartments for everything from her phone to her lipstick and wallet–and the rest of the "stuff." Good-bye black hole!
Buy Now – $58
9. Charitable Mom Love Quotes Scarves
Loved by celebs like Sarah Jessica Parker, Kate Hudson, and Jennifer Aniston for their luxe fabric, chic colors and charitable cause, Phyllis Wiener's "Love Quotes" scarves make a perfect gift for the chic Mom who wants to give back. The scarves, available at lovequotesnyc.com, come in an array of gorgeous colors and can be worn around your neck, as a shawl, or on the beach as a cover up. They also happen to be the perfect size and are amazingly soft. I want them in every color! Plus, 10% of the proceeds are donated to international children's charities. Each scarf comes with its own special quote, making it a truly heartfelt gift. P.S. Did you see Sofia Vergara in the new Pepsi commercial sporting the Regatta blue one as a pareo?
Buy Now – $75


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- Winner! Winner!! - Gina - please email me with your info! Email address on the sidebar! Congrats!!
- Have you seen this? I'm sure you already know how much I adore the good people at Studio Calico. When Kelly emailed to invite me to be one of the contributor, I replied with "Hell, YES! Yes! Yes!!" lol.
We love it. We hoard it. We can't get enough. Now let's use it! Yes, we're talking about washi tape and creative powerhouse Megan Hoeppner of Creating Keepsakes magazine is full of ideas to share for digging into your stash to make amazing new projects.She's joined by washi addicts Nicole Samuels, Kelly Purkey, Allison Waken, Sasha Farina, Julie Ebersole, Tina Aszmus, Lisa Truesdell, and Amy Tan. They'll be providing brand new, exclusive layouts, mini albums, cards, and other great projects.This is a four week class with two detailed PDF lessons posted each Tuesday and Thursday during the month of June, beginning on the 5th. The class includes a private message board and a live chat with Megan & the contributors.You won't want to miss out on this fun - and inspiring - workshop with great ideas for using your wonderful washi!
- I'm giving away a spot in the Washi Workshop today along with the rest of the girls + CK team. To be in the drawing, you have to leave me a comment here, in this post on my blog. If you're reading this via somekind of a reader, or via facebook, please hop on over and leave a comment here on the actual post, okay? And make sure you include the answer to the question below.
- I must say, I can't stop myself from getting more! *gasp* I really do not want to count mine, they're all over the place right now anyway as I'm knee deep in the Washi Workshop layouts. LOL. *excuses, i know!*
- Here's my washi holder, made by my best friend Lena. She has since made me another one because, um. . .my washi multiplied themselves during the night. :D Mind you, this is nothing. I've seen people who own washi in 4 digits. Yup, over 999 rolls!
- I use a lot of washi in my Project Life, so I thought I'd do an update here as well.
- I know, I'm behind. Hello April? That must be a joke. LOL.
- Washi, stamping, chevron glassine bags for recipe, lots of random bits from my cookie tin. Yes, I keep random bits in a Girl Guide Cookie tin. I love cookie tins. Send some my way if you don't want them. LOL. Kidding.
- Okay, this is a novel again! I'm sorry!! Long story short, here's what you have to do.
- To be in the drawing for a spot in the Washi Workshop, leave a comment here,
tell me you love me. Make sure you include the answer to this question ➠ How many rolls of washi do you own?
- Hop on over to the blog of dear friend of mine, Laura Vegas and the blog of the very talented Julie Ebersole. You will have more links to follow from their blogs.
- If you lost your way, you can always go back to Studio Calico blog or Creating Keepsakes blog - all the links are there.
- As long as you're able to comment, you're in. I'll close the comment section before I do the draw.
- I'll see you soon! Good luck!


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This grill has everything. Prestige Series Gas Grills have the total package. A cart model grill by Napoleon with the capabilities of a full outdoor kitchen. Use up to eight different grilling styles with a Prestige Series Gas Grill, including slow grilling and smoking, and barbecue up to 30 burgers over the main burners. Made from shining and durable stainless steel, sleek Prestige Series Grills resist rust and corrosion damage.
The simple answer to this question is Yes! Compared to the majority of standard heating systems, the smart dual fuel switch for heat pumps is incredibly energy-efficient. Paired with a smart fuel switch, the dual heat pumps provide you with a combination of a gas furnace and an electric heat pump, allowing you to switch between both economically and efficiently. A smart dual fuel switch for heat pumps is the ideal choice as it provides you with the reliability of a gas furnace and the benefits of an electric heat pump. Here is everything you need to know about the smart dual fuel switch for heat pumps.
Smart Dual Fuel Switch for Heat Pumps Provides the Best of Both Worlds
With a smart dual fuel switch for heat pumps paired with your gas furnace and heat pump, you can capitalise on the most efficient functionalities of both systems. In addition to not emitting any harmful greenhouse gas, a heat pump is more efficient during the winter as, under ideal circumstances, it transfers 300% more energy than it consumes. However, thanks to the latest technology, the smart dual fuel switch for heat pumps makes it possible to convert between 150 % up to 350% of the energy consumed into heat.
This grill has everything. The Prestige Series P500RSIB-1 Gas Grill is the total package. A cart model grill by Napoleon with the capabilities of a full outdoor kitchen. The P500RSIB-1 has 4 main burners, 1 infrared rear burner, and 1 infrared side burner. This gives the P500RSIB-1 the capacity to cook in at least 8 different ways. You can grill up to 30 burgers over the main burners, up to 8 burgers over the infrared side burner. Every P500RSIB-1 is test fired before packaging, ensuring that your grill will light as soon as it's out of the box. And the stainless steel construction means that this grill will last for years to come.
PRESTIGE 500 WITH INFRARED SIDE AND REAR BURNERS WITH BLUE LID Video
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Made from shining and durable stainless steel, the sleek P500RSIB-1 resists rust and corrosion damage. But it is not just durable on the outside. Under the lid, you will find the same quality stainless steel used for the basin, the tube burners, dual-level sear plates and even the WAVE™ rod cooking grids. The unique wavy design of Napoleon's cooking grids provides even heating and prevent smaller foods from slipping through the cracks. There are 7 staggered stainless steel sear plates on the Prestige P500RSIB-1. This provides extra surface area for any drippings from your food to vaporize, providing extra flavor and avoiding flare-ups. The singular design makes it easier to clean the sear plates as well because there is nowhere for grease and food debris to build up.
The generously sized side shelves are also made from high-grade stainless steel and feature an integrated towel bar that doubles as a condiment or drink holder, so nothing is ever out of reach. One side shelf also holds the infrared SIZZLE ZONE™ side burner while the other folds down for storage and features optional locking screws. This side burner heats in seconds heating to nearly 1,800°F for perfect searing. Lock the juices in by searing the perfect steak, then finish it over indirect heat on the main grill, just like in a steakhouse.
Imagine cooking an entire meal on just one P500RSIB-1 Gas Grill. Sear quickly with the side burner or over the main burners. Or use the side burner to prepare sauces and sauté while grilling on the main burners. Use the unique lid and hood design to hold in heat for oven-like performance, roasting or even baking things like cakes and cookies which will save on cooling costs in the summer. Using that awesome lid design that holds in heat, you can even turn the P500RISB-1 into a smoker grill. Simply fill a Smoker Tube with wood chips and place it over a lit burner. Imagine the flavor of charcoal grilling on a gas grill. You don't need a huge double purpose grill for that. With the Charcoal Smoker Tray, you can light charcoal quickly with your gas burners and be grilling over charcoal in no time. And don't forget the rear burner that pumps out 18,000 BTU's. With the included heavy duty rotisserie kit, you can rotisserie beautiful meals with restaurant quality results.


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The Stockwell-Mudd Libraries make available to students and faculty approximately 550,000 books and non-print items, over 2,000 electronic and print journal subscriptions, and full text articles from more than 25,000 journals through the library's many online databases. The print collections are distributed between two buildings connected by an enclosed walkway: The Stockwell Memorial Library (1938) and the Seeley G. Mudd Learning Center (1980). The Mudd building houses the Reference, Circulation, Special Collections and Technical Services departments; the Madelon Stockwell Turner Memorial Room; video, language and music viewing and listening facilities; a computer laboratory/classroom; the Foundation for Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity (FURSCA), and the Academic Skills Center. The Stockwell building houses the periodicals collection and extensive collections of U.S. government documents, maps, and foreign and domestic newspapers.
The library's online catalog is available to students and faculty from computers located throughout the library, from across campus and from anywhere in the world via the Internet. The library Web site provides instant access to the library's periodical holdings, numerous online indexes and full-text sources, and special collections.
The book collections, developed over more than a century, are extensive and provide support across the curriculum. A large collection of classic and popular motion pictures on videotape and DVD is available. The library is a participant in the Michigan Electronic Library (MeLCaT), an online system that enables Albion students and faculty to directly request materials from other participating Michigan libraries. In addition, the library provides an interlibrary loan service that utilizes an international computer network and electronic transmission to locate and rapidly retrieve materials not available locally.
Wireless access to the College network and the Internet is available throughout both buildings. The library maintains a pool of more than 20 wireless laptops available for student checkout at the Circulation Desk.
The library contains many attractive areas for study-- classrooms, seminar rooms for groups, carrels for individual study, and comfortable seating, with coffee and snacks, in the library lounge. The Friends of the Stockwell-Mudd Libraries sponsor a variety of displays and programs, including readings and lectures, and the Odd Topics Society series. These programs provide a public forum for authors reading from their works and for speakers making presentations on a variety of topics.
The Special Collections department contains the College's archives, United Methodist Church West Michigan Conference archives, student honors theses and a rare books collection. These are closed stacks, but access to these collections and research assistance are available by appointment.
The library staff is highly skilled and conscious of their public service role and mission. The libraries are open 108 hours a week. Reference assistance is available at the Mudd Reference Desk 53 hours a week. Librarians are available to help students develop their research projects and find appropriate materials. A wide range of up-to-date reference sources in electronic and print formats are available for consultation.
A strong program of library instruction has been developed in which librarians teach not only the use of resources in the library, but also how to gain access to information in a wider sense, for lifelong learning. Librarians offer a variety of library instruction sessions, including a general library orientation, and course-specific and assignment-specific sessions. Librarians work closely with faculty to be certain that the reference sources, research strategies and evaluation methods that are presented address the specific information and research needs of the students in their classes.


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When scientists discuss global change, they often focus on the amount of carbon in the atmosphere and vegetation. But soil contains more carbon than air and plants combined. This means that even a minor change in soil carbon could have major implications for the Earth's atmosphere and climate. New research by Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute scientist Benjamin Turner and colleagues points to an unexpected driver of soil carbon content: fungi.
"This finding puts soil biology at the front and center of the debate about the factors that drive soil carbon storage," said Turner, who collaborated with researchers at the University of Texas at Austin and Boston University.
Previous studies considered soil degradation, climate and plant productivity to be the most important regulators of soil carbon content. However, findings published this week in Nature by researchers including Turner suggest that soil biology plays a greater role. Some types of symbiotic fungi can lead to 70 percent more carbon in the soil. The role of these fungi is currently not considered in global climate models.
The majority of plants team up with fungi, exchanging plant carbon for soil nutrients supplied by the fungus. These mutually beneficial relationships can be broadly grouped into three major categories: arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM), ectomycorrhizas, and ericoid mycorrhizas. The AM symbiosis is most common, occurring in approximately 85 percent of plant families, while ecto- and ericoid mycorrhizas (EEM) occur in a few common families.
After an exhaustive number of model runs on data from more than 200 soil profiles from around the globe, the authors found that soils supporting EEM plant communities contained 70 percent more carbon per unit nitrogen than soils supporting AM-dominated plant communities. The effect is significant at the global scale, because it is independent of biomass accumulation, temperature, precipitation and soil clay content.
The marked difference in soil carbon levels between AM and EEM ecosystems is due to the way the two kinds of mycorrhizal fungi acquire nutrients. EEM fungi produce enzymes that allow them to access organic forms of nitrogen, which are not available to AM fungi. By depleting nitrogen from the soil organic matter, EEM fungi limit the activity of the microorganisms that break down dead organic matter and return the carbon to the atmosphere. AM ecosystems impose fewer restrictions on the growth of carbon-consuming microbes.
"This study shows that trees and decomposers are really connected via these mycorrhizal fungi, and that you can't accurately predict future carbon cycling without thinking about how the two groups interact," said Colin Averill, the study's lead author, currently a graduate student at UT Austin. "We need to think of these systems holistically."
Turner said the study provides strong evidence to support a theory published in 2011 by researchers in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. The results suggest any widespread shift in the species composition of forests could change the amount of carbon stored in soil, with consequences for atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.
"These findings will help to refine Earth-system models and promote debate on the extent to which soil microbes influence the global carbon cycle," said Turner.


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The virtual summit takes place Wednesday, Sept. 27 from 1-3 p.m. ET. fnPrime members can register for free
Bring your questions and get answers from Joan Stein, nationally recognized ADA expert, in this interactive virtual session
« Back to Facilities Management News Home
Fremont, OH – - Crown Mats and Matting, now celebrating its 70th year of manufacturing mats in the United States, would like to share its "Ten Terms Everyone Should Know about Mats."
These terms refer to different types of mats used in commercial facilities and, according to Business Development Head JoAnne Boston, are often misunderstood by both cleaning professionals and facility managers.
"A good example of this is the term high-performance mat," says Boston. "While it sounds like it refers to how well a mat performs, it actually refers to how long it lasts. A high-performance mat is designed to withstand very heavy foot traffic and last between 3 to 5 years."
According to Boston, the other nine mat-related terms that often need clarification are:
1. Wiper: Wiper mats are placed inside the doors of a facility to absorb any remaining moisture and soil on a walker's shoes.
2. Scraper: Scraper mats are placed outside a facility and are intended to aggressively scrape soil and debris from shoe bottoms.
3. Wiper/Scraper: Wiper/scraper mats wipe and dry shoe bottoms and are placed following a scraper mat but before a wiper mat.
4. Ergonomic: Ergonomic mats offer a combination of softness (give) and support (resilience) to help reduce worker fatigue.
5. Anti-Fatigue: Anti-fatigue mats offer even greater comfort, bounce, and support to help increase worker productivity and decrease pain, injuries, and soreness.
6. Anti-static: Anti-static mats are designed to help reduce static electricity.
7. Non-conductive: Non-conductive mats help insulate and protect workers from serious shocks that can be generated by high voltage.
8. Specialty: Something of a catch-all, this terms refers to a variety of different matting products, for instance, a mat placed under a chair to protect the floor below, a gym mat, even a meditation mat.
9. Bi-level: Bi-level mats store soil and water below shoe level for later removal. This prevents contaminants from being transferred onto floor surfaces.
"You'd be surprised how many people still think of mats as just being door mats," adds Boston. "The entire matting industry has come a long, long way from just making door mats."
About Crown Mats and Matting
For more than 70 years, Crown Mats and Matting has been a pioneer in the development and manufacture of matting products. Beginning with the invention of walk-off matting by the company's founder, R.P. Johnson, the company now has the most diverse matting product line offered in our industry. Crown sells matting through an extensive network of highly trained sales representatives throughout the United States and worldwide. These sales experts are familiar with the features and benefits of all matting systems and are able to help their clients find the right system for virtually any application.


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Story highlights
Landscaper discovers million-dollar lottery ticket in pile of leaves
Officials wait one year to see whether original ticket holder steps forward
Marvin Rosales Martinez netted $515,612 for his discovery
In the post-Superstorm Sandy destruction, New York landscaper Marvin Rosales Martinez was clearing storm debris with a leaf blower when he discovered an unknown treasure hidden in a pile of leaves.
The damp "Win $1,000 a Week for Life" scratch-off ticket could change his life.
Rosales Martinez, 27, a resident of Hicksville on Long Island, was awarded his $1 million lottery prize on Friday, more than a year after he claimed the winning ticket. He found the ticket among leaves in October 2012.
According to a New York Lottery statement, Rosales Martinez first brought the ticket to a 7-Eleven, but the store couldn't verify it.
It wasn't until November 9, 2012, when Rosales Martinez brought the ticket to the lottery's Long Island Customer Service Center that officials confirmed that it was a winning ticket.
Then, there was a "standard and thorough internal security investigation" to ensure the validity and ownership of the ticket.
According to Lee Park, a lottery spokesman, the review found no reason to believe that the ticket "wasn't rightfully the property of Mr. Martinez. There was no report of theft or of a ticket being misplaced."
"It should be noted that Lottery tickets are bearer instruments," said Park, referring to instruments that may be converted to cash by whomever holds it. "In instances such as these, it's standard practice for the lottery to require a one-year waiting period before awarding the prize in case anyone else comes forward."
In this case, no one stepped forward.
Rosales Martinez was one of five New York lottery winners to claim a prize Friday.
The recipient opted to receive his jackpot prize as a one-time lump sum payment. He will receive a payment of $779,106, netting him $515,612 after required tax withholdings, according to the release.
Rosales Martinez, who could not be reached for comment, told lottery officials that he planned to share his good fortune with his family.


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Hair Salons in Parrsboro Nova Scotia
Need to look your best for a special occasion? Whether you're looking to get a special up-do, colour your hair, or just simply get a trim, you can find the ideal hair salon that bests you and your wallet with our Hair Salons directory. With various locations and types of hair salons to choose from, you'll find what you're looking by using our Hair Salons directory today.


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This is one of my favorite times of year to be a blogger, The Ultimate Blog Party time. It is a great opportunity to meet new people, gain new followers, and WIN great stuff.
So WELCOME if you are coming from The Ultimate Blog Party. Let me introduce myself, I'm Lois and I'm the editor of Goodies for Mom. I'm also the inventor of the Cushie Pushie Breast Support Pillow for Nursing Moms. I designed this pillow to help you gain the correct breast position for easier breastfeeding as this was a big problem I had while nursing my youngest. The Cushie Pushie pushes your breast upward in order to allow easy latching by your nursing baby, while maintaining correct positioning throughout the feeding.
Outside the blogsphere I work for a reinsurance (insure insurance cos.) company's marketing department handling their digital marketing. I am also an online professor with the University of Phoenix for their Master's level Innovation, Creativity and Organizational Design course. Don't tell anyone but sometimes I think I learn more from them than they do from me because they are a very accomplished group of students at UOP ;).
At home, I am a wife to a wonderful husband, Ray and two handsome (and very active) boys, 5 and 7. We are also in the process of trying to adopt a little girl through domestic open infant adoption.
Now for the GIVEAWAY:
bareMinerals has created a new skincare line to try to help us in our quest. They sent me a free sample of their Firming Eye Treatment to try. It is designed to effectively treatment restore firmness and reduces puffiness around the eyes. It contains their RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex, created to deliver smoother, younger-looking skin around the eye area. I've only tried it for about a week but do do think it has made my skin feel firmer and smoother with my bags being less noticable. Now I just need to work on those dark circles by getting more sleep.
They are giving you an opportunity to try it too by giving one (1) lucky Goodies for Mom reader a chance to win a tube of their Firming Eye Treatment.
Deadline is April 8, 2011 at midnight EST. Open to US residents only.
More Chances to Win
Extra entries for:
- Linking to this contest.
- Subscribing to our feed.
- Follow us on Twitter.
- Following us with Blogger.
- Having a link or button to the Goodies for Mom site on your site
- Tweeting about this giveaway.
Now head over to the Ultimate Blog Party and join in the fun and get your chance to win tons of of prizes.
Disclaimer: We received the product and an additional one to give away free of charge from bareMinerals.


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Mar 23, 2019, 4:00 PM
49 Liberty Rd, 49 Liberty Rd, Troy, NY 12180, USA
Hi everyone! we are 2mamascreations! We are very excited for Colleen's party! Please after you RSVP to the event come back to our website and click on the wood sign designs (top right corner}, there you can purchase your design(many to choose from) and size of the sign you would like. ** If you would like a custom design of your choosing, Please message us on here or on Facebook: 2mamascreations, please leave the design(picture) and any details you want on it, and your sign size (12x12, round(17"x17"), 12x24). There will be a $5 extra charge for a custom design. There are no refunds as we take the time to cut the design, wood and make sure we have enough materials for everyone. payment is due no later than 10 days before the party.


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"Our morality has religious roots." – Theo Hobson[1]
What does it mean to take something for granted? Every day we walk on ground we seldom notice. It's just there, underneath us, supporting our feet as we go about our days learning, working and worshiping. Though often unseen, the ground of our lives is full of religious meaning. Many of life's compelling questions tend to be spiritual. How do we achieve our deepest longings? What makes something right or wrong? Whom should we love? How do we overcome suffering? The answers we receive shape our reality. But religion is always contested. Some even imagine a world without faith. What, then, do we stand to lose?
The rigors of science and technology open us to many wonders and truths, but they cannot, as one writer explained, "connect with purpose, intimacy, emotion-the stuff that matters most in people's everyday lives."[2] The highest in human accomplishment often traces to religious inspiration. Much of the world's finest art, architecture, music and literature are clothed in the beauty of spiritual longing. Sacred writings provide ethical frameworks that spark deeds of self-sacrifice, integrity and love. Religion gives societies a shared moral aspiration, instils social commitment without legal compulsion, encourages voluntary compliance of the law and reminds us of our inherent dignity. Belief in deity motivates people to overcome the despair of death and turn suffering into good.
The values of society have roots in the ground of religion. Our modern aspirations toward human rights, altruism and humanitarian aid, for example, have religious pedigrees. Behind efforts to feed the poor, house the homeless and treat the sick, a church ministry is likely to be found.[3] Trust in our civic foundation depends on the spiritual disciplines of honesty, empathy and reciprocity. Everyone benefits when we live up to these ideals. Secular journalist Will Saletan wrote: "Religion is the vehicle through which most folks learn and practice morality. In the long run, it's our friend."[4]
And then come all the precious, indefinable things. Alexis de Tocqueville wrote that human beings are born with a "taste for the infinite" and a "love for what is immortal."[5] Individuals across time and culture have pondered and sought these intangibles. Identity, understanding, salvation, belonging – the things of the soul – never stray far from our hearts. Agnostic writer Julian Barnes tapped into something profound when he said, "I don't believe in God, but I miss him."[6] A world without religion looks flatter, emptier and simpler, yet still craves the God it once knew.
Today people across the globe find refuge in God and their faith communities. Eighty four percent of the world's population identifies with a religious group.[7] The world is not sinking into disbelief, but that belief is becoming more rich, pluralistic and complex. We are all stewards of society, and our choices determine who we become. The ground of religion needs constant cultivating and nourishing. A garden cannot take care of itself.
[1] Theo Hobson, "The Return of God: Atheism's Crisis of Faith," The Spectator, Apr. 19, 2014.
[2] Alasdair Craig, "God Is Dead – What Next?" Prospect, May 1, 2014.
[3] See Robert A. Putnam and David E. Campbell, American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us (2010).
[4] Will Saletan, "When Churches Do the Right Thing," Slate, May 8, 2014.
[5] Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America (2000), 510.
[6] Julian Barnes, Nothing to Be Frightened Of (2009), 1.
[7] Pew Research Religion & Public Life Project, "The Global Religious Landscape," Dec. 18, 2012.