Month: November 2014

Out With the Old, In With the New Church Pews

Post author By Family Fun
Post date November 29, 2014
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According to Gallup research, 40% of Americans across the nation are admittedly very religious, stating that religion plays an integral part of their daily lives and they attend religious services every week or every other week.

While many churches want to keep the original pews in their place of worship to maintain that authentic, historic quality for as long as possible, it becomes impractical to keep them when the pews begin to fall apart.

Just like any other furniture, years of wear and tear can take a toll on your church furniture. Like any other building, you want to make sure that your church remains clean, well-furnished and comfortable for those who visit. This can be a hard goal to achieve with outdated, antique church pews.

Choosing to replace or renovate church pews not only will make your place of worship look even more beautiful, but visitors can listen to sermons without the distraction of rotting wood, fading paint chips or just plain uncomfortable seating. Here are some tips and tricks to think about when deciding to upgrade to new seating in your parish.

What to Do When Trying to Get New Church Pews Installed:

It may surprise you that the first pews were introduced in the 13th century. They started off as removable stone benches placed against church walls. You want to make sure that your parishioners no longer feel like they are sitting and kneeling on hard stone. Look for options that offer a little more comfort and durability for your visitors.
A good idea for a fundraiser is to advertise “church pews for sale.” Many religious individuals look to buy church pews for their own homes. Antique pews can often be viewed as sacred collectibles and are popular additions to one’s home, usually in a seating area or entrance way. Having a fundraiser with church pews for sale is a great way to make sure that the pews will be used by someone who really wants them and you can raise money for new pews. It’s a win win for both parties.
You may ask yourself, “Where can I possibly find church pews?” After all, church pews aren’t generally a hot commodity to acquire in society. Luckily, there still is a small niche of businesses that deal exclusively with the transportation and installation of new church pews. Look online and in your local area to see what services are within your budget.

After you have your used church pews for sale and you install new ones, you will be happy to notice how much of a difference they make in the overall “feel” of your church.

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The Top Three Benefits of Owning a Custom Home

Post author By Family Fun
Post date November 24, 2014
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Though the housing market took a hit during the recession, the dreary economic landscape has recovered and more and more people are opting for custom housing. Buying custom built homes may seem to be extravagant, but there are a number of benefits of buying and owning one. Here are the top three:

1. They’re Tailored to the Buyer’s Needs.
One of the most obvious benefits of custom built homes is that they are perfectly fit to the buyer’s needs. Custom designed homes are good for families who have special needs like a family member with a disability or who have extended family living with them. A custom floor plan means that the buyer has a say in the way the home is laid out and how the rooms are situated. Custom luxury homes also usually have the options of added amenities like hot tubs or swimming pools.

2. New Homes Need Little Maintenance.
Another reason people commonly choose to buy luxury homes is that newer homes can be less expensive in the long since they actually need much less maintenance. Having efficient utilities can make a home 30% more efficient than an older home that doesn’t have new utilities. Additionally, new home owners won’t have to invest in repairs and other maintenance issues for a number of years after the purchase.

3. Buyers Can Opt for Green Appliances.
Part of the custom home building process is choosing appliances that will be installed in the home, which offers buyers the chance to opt for energy-efficient and green appliances. Not only will this save the buyer on utility costs in the future, but it also allows the owner to engage in environmentally-friendly practices.

What are some other benefits of buying new custom homes? Feel free to tell us about them in the comments. Find more.

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How to Find Meaning in Your Life By Volunteering in Your Community

Post author By Family Fun
Post date November 23, 2014
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The holiday season is busy, hectic time for Americans and their families. During the holiday season, we have feasts and celebrations to give thanks and connect with our loved ones.

In addition to holiday shopping, Americans also spend time making charitable donations and volunteering during the holiday season as a way to spread joy and honor the true spirit of Christmas. During this time of year, families that have loved ones in the armed forces often turn to organizations that help military families for support. As such, the holiday season is chaotic time for charities, which is why volunteering is so important.

Volunteering is the perfect activity for millennials and retirees. It offers millennials the opportunity to gain professional experience, while expanding their network. While the job market has significantly improved since the recession, finding a job can still be difficult. Also, volunteering also gives retirees the opportunity to redefine their retirement and find meaning and purpose in this new stage of their life.

There are several ways to volunteer. For example, organizations that pick up clothing donations need volunteers to not only sort through donations, but to pick up clothing donations as well. This gives volunteers the opportunity to connect with others in their community and unite under a common goal. Find more on this here.

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Can I Sleep on my Side in an Adjustable Bed?

Post author By Family Fun
Post date November 21, 2014
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Too many adjustable bed reviews seem to focus on the physicality of the bed with regard to the room it’s in, but it’s the bed’s performance we want to know about… right?
For example, it’s fairly common knowledge at this point that a flat mattress doesn’t support the human back’s natural “s-curve.” Be that as it may, everyone has their preferred sleep positions, and folks reading adjustable bed reviews want to know if they’re going to have to change those positions to get the full value of an electric adjustable bed. One recurring misconception is that you will not be able to sleep on your side in an adjustable bed. And yet, nothing could be farther from the truth. Sleeping on your side in adjustable beds is easy and can be enjoyed night after night.
One reason for the misconception is that most of the time when we see pictures of people in adjustable beds, they’re sleeping on their backs or sitting up and doing activities (reading, using tablets) to demonstrate how the bed can contour to the human body when properly adjusted. It’s more difficult to show in attractive photos how a bed contours to the body when the subject is sleeping on their side and how this is positively impacting the spine. Despite this, side sleeping is easily achieved when the head segment of the adjustable bed is raised up to a comfortable, ergonomic position that will vary slightly from one individual to another. Although it depends somewhat on the height the head segment is raised up to, side-sleeping is usually best achieved when your knees are bent and/or feet slightly raised, something most people do naturally when they turn on their side anyway.
Relaxing and sleeping on one’s side can provide temporary relief from a variety of health issues, including certain kinds of hernias, nighttime heartburn, gastric reflux and any number of minor aches and pains. Additionally, light or occasional snoring will likely be reduced from sleeping in the elevated head position. Do some research since there are plenty of adjustable bed systems on the market.

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How to Make Sure You Never Lose Your TV Remote

Post author By Family Fun
Post date November 20, 2014
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TV remote controls are becoming more important as modern TVs grow more complex while phasing out buttons on the devices themselves. When you lose your remote nowadays, you might not even be able to turn your television on, or switch the input from your gaming system to cable in time for that show you want to catch.

The average TV watcher spends over two weeks searching for lost remotes over the course of their lifetime. If you’re tired of searching for television remote controls every time you want to watch something, here are some foolproof tricks for always having a remote on hand.

Have a System for Keeping Your Remote in Place

Infomercials offer plenty of options to help you keep track of your remotes, from pocket organizers that go over the arm of your couch to cords that keep your remotes attached to a coffee table or other surface.

You can purchase something like this, or you can create your own system. Use an office organizer to store remotes in the same place, or put velcro on the back of each remote and attach them to your coffee table. Just having a place where remotes go is a great way to keep them from getting lost. You just have to commit to putting them back after you use them.

Buy a Universal Remote

If too much clutter is your problem, or you can never remember which remote is for which device, universal or all in one remote controls might be a good solution for you. Using universal remote codes, you can code one remote to several devices. Of course, this means if you lose one remote, you lose them all, but you can always keep your old remotes safely stored for backup just in case something happens to the universal remote.

Universal remotes do limit the functions you can use on your device, however, which brings us to the third option.

Buy Backup Remotes

If universal remotes cut into your device’s functionality, you can always buy replacement remote controls from third party vendors. Replacement remote controls are just new versions of the device you lost, so you don’t lose any of the functions that came with your device. If you want, you can even stock up on replacement remote controls for a single device so that when you lose one, you can just program a new one and keep on trucking.

How have you kept your remotes around? Let us know in the comments!
Find more on this topic here.

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How to Help Military Families and Veterans During the Holidays

Post author By Family Fun
Post date November 19, 2014
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The holidays are a perfect time to show your appreciation and support for military families and veterans. As we celebrate with our families and loved ones this holiday season, it’s important to remember that many military families will also be celebrating without some of their loved ones, who are either deployed or have died in combat. Many veterans who are living residential homes or are in hospitals will be celebrating the holidays alone. However, showing military support and giving back to the community is easier than ever.

There are several local, regional, and national organizations that help military families year round. Like many Americans, you may be eager to make a charitable donations but are unsure of how to go about doing so or what kind of donation is best. Contact a VA or military charity in your area to find out how. During the holiday season, VA and military charities often have drives in which they may request specific veterans donations, such as non-perishable food and clothing donations. There are several organizations and charities that pick up veterans donations directly from your home.

However, veterans donations don’t always have to be a physical, tangible item. Donating your time by volunteering is an excellent way to contribute. You can volunteer at a charity by putting together care packages, serving meals at holiday veterans charity event, or spend time with a recovering veteran in a hospital or treatment facility. Or simply say thank you to veteran by buying him or her a cup of coffee or a meal.

Kindness and happiness are contagious, especially during the holiday season. No form of donating or volunteering is better than the other; all efforts make a difference and are appreciated.

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Three Reasons to Think Locally and Globally about Local Clothing Donations for Your Community

Post author By Family Fun
Post date November 18, 2014
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Did you know that clothing is one of the easiest materials to recycle and yet it makes up 5% of all trash in U.S. landfills? Americans throw away approximately 12 to 13 million tons of clothing each year, in fact, when instead those clothes could be donated to your local charity organizations.

Giving local clothing donations to charity is good for everyone who receives help, and donating is great for the environment, too. If you’re not sure why you should think locally and globally when you donate, here are three great reasons to give:

It’s good for your community.

It’s good for the planet.

It’s good for you.

Have more questions about giving local clothing donations to your area charities? Leave a comment below.

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Three Easy Tips for Fixing and Flipping Houses

Post author By Family Fun
Post date November 7, 2014
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Flipping houses is practically becoming an American pasttime. Part hobby, part do-it-yourself project, part money-making endeavor, the practice is becoming more and more popular. One of the most common ways to do it is to fix and flip houses. This basically entails buying a house that might need some upgrades, renovating it, and then selling it for a profit.

1. Spend Your Money Where it Counts.
Even rookie house flippers know that keeping to a tight buget is one of the most important parts for a successful flip. The best way to squeeze the value out of your budget and to make your flip sellable is to put your money where it counts the most — the kitchen and bathroom. Adding sparkly new appliances, updated lighting, and making sure nothing looks out of date is important for the overall sellability of the house.

2. The Devil is in the Details.
Another important tip for anyone who wants to fix and flip houses is that the devil is in the details. After the bathroom and kitchen updates, your attention should be on making sure that the little things are taken care of. This means plastering any tiny holes in the walls, sealing window frames, and updating things like the mailbox and the numbers on the house. All of these will be little contributors to the sale of the house.

3. Do Your Homework.
This is another really important but easy tip. Flipping houses takes more than just sweat equity –it takes know-how. You should always do your homework about housing market cycles (which are usually about four years up and about nine months down). Look for tips and tricks on house flipping blogs or in books. There are a lot of other house flippers out there that you can learn from, so take advantage of that.

Do you have any other tips for fixing and flipping houses? Let us know in the comments!

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Consider an Adjustable Bed First

Post author By Family Fun
Post date November 7, 2014
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Looking for natural ways to sleep better? Sometimes medication isn’t the answer. There are many reasons why you’re not sleeping as well as you possibly could, and before you say yes to a prescription (which may leave you feeling groggy by day or have other unpleasant side effects), perhaps you should look at the most basic issues first. For instance: do you have the right bed?
Adjustable beds and/or adjustable bed systems have come a long way since initially introduced to the market many moons ago. They now come in all sorts of different shapes, sizes and designs – including with memory foam – to fit your individual needs The key to finding natural ways to sleep better at night might just be in finding the right bed for you. Did you know that regular, flat mattresses don’t support the human back’s natural s-curve? The bottom line is that flat beds create gaps that don’t support the spine.This in itself reveals a whole host of problems that can lead to a poor sleeping regimen.
Many of us that continue sleeping on flat mattresses end up turning on our sides during the night, which actually obstructs proper blood flow and breathing. This can lead to a condition called Edema, which presents as swelling in the legs and feet from poor circulation, often exacerbated by unhealthy sleeping positions.
On the other hand, an adjustable bed could dramatically improve your health. By sleeping with a slightly elevated back, for instance, you can combat gastric reflux and damaging nighttime heartburn, increase circulation and prevent edema, cut down or eradicate snoring, prevent sleep apnea and relieve pesky lower back pain. That’s not to mention the increased quality of rest gleaned from the reduction of these problems, which has a healing effect on the entire body.
When adjustable beds first hit the home market, people were reluctant to purchase them because they had a clinical look to them. Now they’re designed to fit right into the scheme of your bedroom. Wouldn’t you rather try to combat your health problems by finding natural ways to sleep better, rather than letting powerful medications run the show?
More: www.craftmatic.com

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5 Times in Your Life You Should Consider Renting a Storage Unit

Post author By Family Fun
Post date November 6, 2014
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There are many benefits of self storage units. These might be most obvious to people living in small apartments or who have outgrown their current homes, but rentals can actually be helpful even for people with ample space at home. Here are some reasons you might consider self storage:

If You’re Moving or Just Moved
If you’re on either end of the moving process, it’s easy for boxes to take over your home and life. Renting a short-term storage unit can allow you to get boxes out of the way as they’re packed, in your old house, and then settle into your new house unpacking as slowly as you like.
If You Have a Boat or RV
Boats and RVs can take up all your driveway space, which is particularly frustrating if you only use them a few weeks out of the year. Putting these vehicles in storage also prevents them from getting damaged in the winter, ensuring they hold out for as many family vacations as possible.
If You Have a Seasonal Car
Just like recreational vehicles, you might also have a car that’s only used part of the year. This might be because it’s a convertible or a classic you don’t want exposed to harsh weather, or because you have different numbers of drivers some parts of the year due to university schedules or seasonal work.
If You Have Valuables
Some facilities can offer the benefits of climate controlled storage, which is great whether you’re looking for wine storage or a place to safely stash your antique furniture.
If You Want to Reduce Clutter
There’s quite a bit of stuff in most people’s homes that’s only used a few times a year. But it piles up, and putting it in storage until it’s actually needed can help you reclaim your living space. The most obvious example when this might be useful, of course, is that of Christmas decorations. But anything you don’t use regularly can be stored; and if you realize you haven’t pulled something out of storage in a year or two, maybe that’s a sign it’s time to get rid of it and permanently cut down on your clutter.

Can you think of any other benefits of self storage units that might prompt a homeowner to rent one? Share your ideas in the comments.

Get more info here.