Author: Family Fun

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Charitable donations Clothing donation Organizations that help military families

Extend a Helping Hand for the Holidays How to Give Back the Right Way

Donations for non profit organizations

This holiday season, there are plenty of families and children in need of warm winter clothing and other assistance. If you’ve been thinking of cleaning out your closets or cupboards and donating, now is the time to do it! For children in need clothing can be a huge gift and you can know that you helped someone in need simply by giving away what you didn’t want. It’s a win-win for everyone — families get warm clothes that are in good condition and you create more space and less clutter in your own home. You also save that material from ending up in a landfill or dump somewhere.
Does Donating Really Help?
Believe it or not, if you donate clothing or other household items, it keeps those items in the consumer loop and prevents them from just being thrown away. About 12 million pounds of clothing or other textiles are thrown out every year in the United States — a huge waste, when it could be used by someone else. For children in need clothing like your kids’ old winter coats could be the difference between staying warm and well during the winter season or coming down with colds.
Additionally, many people enjoy shopping for secondhand clothing. Americans buy about ten pounds of gently used clothing every year, which is great, considering that 90% of the clothing or textiles tossed every year could have been reused. The lower prices on secondhand clothing and the variety to be found in secondhand stores can make it a fun shopping experience — a little like a treasure hunt!
It’s also a popular option for donations — in 2011, for example, about 2 million pounds of clothes or other textile materials were donated or recycled.
It also teaches your kids to give back to the community they live in. It’s great to establish a culture of philanthropy in the house early and promote giving back. Teaching by example is one of the best ways to foster this and will make everyone in the entire family feel good!
Where Can I Donate?
There are multiple charitable organizations in the United States — from charities that will pick up donations to places that you can drop donations off at. If you have a specific charitable interest, such as supporting military charities, veterans charities, or helping families in need more generally, there’s an organization for you to give back to. However, if you’re just starting to think about giving back, a quick online search about a cause you care about or an organization you may have heard about will yield certain results.
Some donors prefer giving material goods as opposed to money, because they feel more certain that their donations are reaching the intended parties without any third party interference. (Many have concerns that a portion of their donations go towards funding the organization itself, instead of reaching the people they’re trying to help.)
For children in need clothing can be a huge way to give back. Consider looking into a charity or a local shelter to donate to — your efforts are sure to be appreciated and you could help turn someone’s life around in a positive way.

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Charity clothing pick up Charity foundations Purple heart donations

Why You Should Give to Charity

Charity foundations

When trying to find a charity to support it can be difficult to choose because there seem to be so many. So what are the best charities to donate to? Most charities can be broken down into seven groups. We will go over them in this article.

  1. Animal charities. This includes wildlife conservation organizations, pet an animal welfare organizations, hunting and fishing conservation groups, and zoos and aquariums.
  2. Environmental charities. The two main subgroups for this kind of charity is environmental conservation and protection and parks and nature centers.
  3. Community development charities. This would include things such as fundraising organizations, community foundations and housing and neighborhood development.
  4. International organizations. These charities usually are based out of one country but actually work in another. This type of charity includes international development NGOs, disaster relief and humanitarian NGOs, peace and human rights NGOs, conservation NGOs and child sponsorship organization.
  5. Health charities. These charities support and treat the sick and disabled, try to find cures for diseases, and promote public awareness. This type of charity includes diseases and disorders, medical services and treatment, medical research to charities and patient and family support charities.
  6. Education charities. These kind of charities take care of students from all age groups and focus on making education more accessible and effective. This would include private elementary, junior high and high schools, universities and colleges, scholarship and financial aid services, school reform and experimental education and support for students teachers and parents.
  7. Arts, culture and humanity charities. This last group of charities work to preserve artistic and cultural legacies and celebrate the arts and our heritage. This includes museums and art galleries, performing arts, libraries and historical societies and public broadcasting and media.

There are a few charities that do not fit within the seven types of charities but for the most part everything can be broken down between the seven categories.

Hopefully the type of charity that you want to support or donate to his class within one of these categories. If not I’m sure it would not be difficult to find out how exactly your particular charity is categorized.

Maybe you weren’t planning on donating and don’t even know why it’s a necessity or wonder what are the best charities to donate to. Let me cover a few reasons donating is beneficial.

  1. Donations are tax deductible. The money you give is tax deductible but also any travelling done for a charity, parking fees or even event fees as long as you haven’t been reimbursed for anything.
  2. You’ll become part of something bigger. It may not seem like you giving much but if everyone gave just a little time or money it would become a lot and could make a huge difference.
  3. Benefit the world’s neediest people. This pretty much says it all. Just $450 can fund an entire fistula surgery to repairs obstetric injuries that happened due to complications at birth.
  4. Feel good It might seem like a selfish reason to do something so selfless but there are medical studies that prove giving to other people can make a person happier with themselves.

These are just a few of many, many reasons to donate clothes, money or time to people in need. So what are the best charities to donate to? The one where your charitable donation could save someone’s life. More info like this.

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History of oriental rugs Oriental rug repair company Oriental rugs for sale

What You May Not Have Realized About Caring for and Cleaning Oriental Rugs

Oriental rug interior design

If you’ve been following the latest design trends in home magazines or tuning in to HGTV’s programming, you’ve probably noticed that there’s one familiar decor staple that’s making a comeback. That’s right — oriental rugs are trendy once again, and this form of carpeting is popping up everywhere. These rugs typically feature unusually thick pile of up to 160 knots per square inch and have very rich color combinations. From being a centerpiece in the dining room to making a family room extra cozy, you can class up your home with one of these beautiful and unique handmade carpets.

Yet what most people don’t realize when they jump on this trend is that Oriental rugs are incredibly delicate and usually made from either silk or wool. Because they are hand-knotted, they must be handled with care, whether they’re on display in a central location of the home or only brought out for special occasions.

As a result, caring for and cleaning Oriental rugs can be difficult without the use of a professional Oriental rug repair and cleaning service. For the most part, cleaning Oriental rugs needs to be done with special solvents, and it’s best to do this with antique rugs made from natural materials. However, even synthetic materials may need proper care, so they don’t fade or fall apart.

Fortunately, you can also take care of your rugs at home with these helpful tips:

  • Oriental rug dealers will often give you information about where your rug was made and what it’s made out of if you’re buying a truly authentic piece. Make sure you write this information down somewhere, so you have it handy when the time comes for you to get a professional Oriental rug cleaning.
  • By moving furniture around regularly, you can avoid leaving permanent dents in your furniture. If you keep something like a dining room table on your Oriental rug, make sure to move the table and chairs a few inches every now and then to avoid serious wear and tear on the carpet.
  • Don’t try to clean the rug yourself! Even supposedly “gentle” household cleaners can have disastrous effects on your rugs. Make sure that you have a professional repairing and cleaning oriental rugs for you, so they have the best chance of lasting a lifetime or more.

Whether your rugs are simply for decoration or are a priceless family heirloom, make sure they get the proper care they need and deserve. Have more questions about caring for your Oriental rugs? Ask away in the comments below or bring them to a professional.

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Master-planned community Tampa bay homes

Looking for a Change? Move to Florida for Warmer Weather and Financial Freedom!

Modern home design

If you or someone you know as been contemplating about checking out the real estate market for a new home, you should consider Florida as your next new home. Not only does Florida have a booming economy, but the sunshine state really lives up to it?s name with cities like Land O?Lakes having an estimated 248 sunny days a year! No matter the area of Florida you?re interested in moving to, there are plenty of communities and homes to choose from. Enlist the aid of master planned community developers to build your dream home, or have a realtor show you how to buy a new home that’s already been built. There are a lot of single family homes out there, so the options are endless.

States like Florida aren?t just for retirees anymore. Young professionals and people of all ages are seeking out the warmth the state has to offer. Another reason why Florida is a prime destination state for those looking for a change is that it is one of the few states that doesn?t collect income taxes. Other states that don?t collect income taxes include Alaska, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Because of this unique aspect of the state, some people can really benefit financially by moving to Florida, especially if they live in a state with a high income tax rate, like New York.

Other benefits of moving and buying a home in Florida is that if you declare a place your primary residence, you can receive an exemption for up to your first $50,000 in property taxes. Thanks to master planned community developers, the suburban landscape is also growing throughout Florida, which is a good thing because nearly 66% of millennials seeking to buy homes prefer living in more modern homes in the suburbs, as opposed to 24% who prefer more rural locations and 10% who prefer city living.

So if you?re one of the many people who want a change of pace, move on down to Florida where you can enjoy not only the warmer weathers, but also the financial benefits from living and owning a home in the nation?s sunshine state!

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Amish sheds in new jersey Large sheds Pergolas

Furnish your home uniquely and beautifully

Wooden playsets for kids

Amish furniture is handcrafted by the Amish in America and is usually made from 100% wood. Amish furniture is usually more traditional style. They do not just sell couches and coffee tables like you might think but actually Amish furniture can extend to a pool house, custom sheds, they even have barns for sale. To give you a little better idea of what Amish furniture can bring to your home I’m going to go over a few things that they sell.

Pool houses They say that most of their buildings can be made into a pool house but the ones they prefer are called ‘Victorian’ or ‘Elite’. These feature a large overhang and a porch but the porch can be optional. Columns, large windows and glass doors are the traditional look of a pool house made here but every piece can be customized or updated to your liking. A pool house can either be made on site, at your location or it can be made and then delivered in one piece to you.

Dog Kennel Dog kennels can be pretty upscale and fancy. The ‘Elite’ dog kennel features light gray paint, white trim, charcoal shingles and black doors. It is eight by 10 shed area, connected to a four by eight insulated box, ending with six by eight run area that has the option of having a chain link fence installed.

Dutch Corner Cupboard When it comes to indoor furniture, there are five collection types to choose from. For the purpose of this article we are looking at the David collection. The dutch corner cupboard is made of oak wood for easy of staining or painting to the owner’s specification. It features 3 open shelves framed by an arch and a door for storage at the bottom.

Weathervanes Weathervanes, just like any other piece of Amish furniture, are mostly made of wood. However, weathervanes do differ slightly as they can also be made out of copper or brass.

These are just a few pieces to give you an idea of the types of things you can buy at an Amish furniture store. These pieces will are beautiful and since they are handmade, no two are going to be exactly alike. Sure, to the naked eye they may seem like that but that is what makes handmade items so rare; the little differences that you could never see unless you look very closely. Of course, you can also have each piece customized to your liking so this will make your furniture even more unique and special.

As far as price goes, you can pay all up front or work out a payment plan for a rent to own deal. What kind of Amish furniture would you buy?

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Adirondack chairs Vehicle playsets What is an amish cupola

Unique Business Brings Local Craftsman and Amish Group Together

Vehicle playsets

The Amish are known for their high-quality furniture, sheds, and gazebos, but many people in the Selkirk-area of New York have also known Fred Becker to provide similar services. For the past 21 years he’s worked with the local community to provide sheds and gazebos, but it wasn’t until recently he decided to start his very own family business. Today, Backyard Sheds is a small, family-owned business with the philosophy to treat customers the way they, themselves, would want to be treated, according to the Capital District news source SpotlightNews.com.

?It?s a business that really appealed to me, and I enjoy working with customers. I like working with my hands,? said Becker, who owns Backyard Sheds with his wife, Sue Hulick.

Becker’s ultimate goal is to have the best-quality products at the cheapest prices. In order to do that he decided to enlist the help of workers from outside his family, but who he’s been close with for the last 15 years or so and considers to be trusted friends and business partners. The group is the Lancaster Amish Community.

?They?re great people to work with, and we?ve become close,? said Becker. ?About 95 percent of the work they do is exclusively for us.?

In true Amish tradition everything from the bowback chairs to custom gazebos are 100% handmade, usually from one of the five woods Amish typically use: oak, cherry, hickory, walnut, or maple.

Although a lot of the Amish furniture and products they sell is made beforehand, they are open to working with customers in designing a piece for their specific needs and desires. The only problem you might have is that it usually takes at least eight weeks to make custom Amish furniture.

Recently Backyard Sheds has even started building custom garages because of popular customer demand. They build these entirely on site by having a crew come in and even help you with the blueprints.

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Day care coral gables Day care near me Preschool coral gables fl

How Can Preschool Benefit Your Little One?

Education is a long-term part for us as human beings. Many people think it starts in kindergarten, but it starts a lot earlier. When you think about learning, we need to remember that children ages 0-5 are acquiring massive amounts of information from their parents, family, friends, and technology.

Children age 0-5 also learn in other ways, such as preschool, where they can expand their minds beyond their immediate surroundings. Studies show that children who attend preschool do better in primary school, secondary school, and in life. The classes in preschool provide healthy interactions for children with adults and their peers to expand academic, social-emotional skills, verbal skills, and creativity.

Choosing a preschool can be a hard task, if you’re not sure what to look for. Look for a private preschool, where the student-teacher ratio is low. The average student-teacher ratio in private preschools is 10:1. The best private preschools take pride in giving your child the personal attention to meet their individual needs. If you’re a parent of a child age 2-4, now it’s time to explore “where can I find independent preschools near me?”

Finding a good preschool

Choosing the best preschool for your child can be a daunting experience, especially if it’s your first born! Finding a good preschool is such an important job for parents yet so many parents think it an optional part of schooling. According to research, more than five million children in the United States attend some kind of prekindergarten program on any given day of the year. Let me enlighten you to the benefits of preschool for your children!

I know preschool can often be confused with daycare. Generally, daycare centers or childcare centers are a place for children to be taken care of in a safe and fun environment while their parents are working or at school or whatever the case may be. While there are many similarities between the two places, daycare seems to focus more on entertainment and stimulation while preschool is just that: a prelude to school; a place where the child can begin to learn things that will help them later.

At preschool, not only do the children learn how to socialize and how to get along with other children but they learn vital things like sharing and contributing to a conversation or a team exercise, compromising and being respectful of others. Preschool is also a place to learn independence. From pouring their own drink to helping the teachers in easy tasks, the children can grow in their self confidence. These are just a few of the benefits of preschool.

Learning new activities and obtaining new interests is a vital part of growing and becoming one’s own person. Summer camp is another place where many new things can be introduced to children. Research done by the American Camp Association (ACA), stated that 63% of children who learn new activities at camp end up keeping an interest in that particular activity even after camp is over. However, if the child has not been able to acclimate to being surrounded by other children in a setting like preschool, summer camp will be an absolutely no-go for that particular child. He would most likely be intimidated, overwhelmed, over stimulated and learn hardly anything at all.

As far as academic learning at preschool, kids will be exposed to colors, alphabet, numbers and shapes. A private preschool would focus even more on the academic side of things. One of the reasons they are able to do that is because 36% of private school have an average student teacher ratio of 10:1 or lower. Public schools average only 10%.

So, how to find a preschool? Plan, search, compare. Do you want your child to attend a private or a public school? At what age would you like them to start? Some preschools take children as young as 2 1/2. Would you prefer a part time day or full time? There are lots of opportunities and options for you to pick from. The benefits of preschool are plenty so have fun with it, don’t get stressed and it will be a great experience for all involved!

 

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Horse ranches for sale Hunting land for sale in colorado Wyoming cattle ranches for sale

Ideas to Help You Start a Horse Ranch

One must-have for a horse ranch is covered horse stalls, which doesn’t require you to become a carpenter to build. You can buy horse stalls in a kit that has all the pre-cut lumber ready for your use and metal roofing. These ready-made classic equine horse stalls save you time and money because kits typically cost less than hiring a construction professional to erect the horse stalls.

Although you might think that horse barns feature dirt floors, they haven’t for decades. Most building kits include horse stable flooring materials and drainage instructions, but not all include the drainage piping needed. Horse stall drains help keep the area clean, since you can clean the stall floor by hosing everything down the drain.

What will you need to clean out? Horses use the bathroom in their stalls, so this drainage system lets you wash feces and urine down a pipe. It’s also common to wash horses in their stalls, so when you rinse the horse after lathering it, the wash and rinse water runs down the drain.

Horses also sleep in their stalls and, for this reason, stalls provide quite a bit of space per horse. Horses tend to sleep in a different area than they use the bathroom, so they’ll appreciate bulk wood flake bedding for horse stalls spread along the bottom of their stall. Once you’ve divided a barn into stalls or erected freestanding horse stalls, you’re ready to tackle some other aspects of owning a horse ranch.

Colorado ranch

Texas may be known best for its oil but agriculture is big business there. Approximately 14% of Texans work in agriculture and the industry adds about $36.4 billion to the state?s economy each year. The state has more ranches and farms than most of the rest of the country. While ranches are traditionally thought about in terms of agriculture needs, but more and more people are looking to spend their vacation on a horse ranch.

To understand the new trend it is important to know the difference between a ranch and a farm. Food is grown on both and they both take up a lot of land but there are differences. Farm land is used mostly for crops and dairy cows. The cows are kept in pens and are not killed for meat but kept healthy to produce milk. Cattle ranches are home to a completely different kind of cow. These are herded from the ranch to the market to be slaughtered to be sold as meat. A horse ranch is different still.

Some people will take their vacation at a horse ranch and decide to open one of their own. These can be a lot of fun but take a lot of work and be a challenge. You have all of the stresses of running a hotel and then the stress that accompanies owning and caring for animals.

You can find horse ranches for sale all over the country but some of the most spectacular landscapes are in the west. Some real estate you will see consists of working ranches that were converted to being guest ranches. This is important when you plan the activities.

If you?ve seen the movie,?City Slickers,” you are already familiar with the idea of vacationing on a working ranch. In the film three friends go to a dude ranch to herd cattle to market. If you want to offer activities that mimic life on a real ranch, you need to buy one that is still being used for that purpose.

Most of your guests will want or need horseback riding lessons. You will need horses for people of all skill levels and people to instruct them. Your customers may want to help care for the horses, let them! Other people might ask about bird watching or sightseeing. Some western ranches are near ghost towns. If you can, make arrangements for day trips. A greta vacation at a horse ranch may involve some time away from the ranch itself. And sitting around a campfire at night seems like a mandatory activity.

You have a pretty large selection of kinds of accommodations you will offer. The level of luxury varies from horse ranch to horse ranch. Some are rustic and bare bones but others are extremely luxurious. You are really only limited by your imagination. Remember to stay at least a little bit flexible. If you try one thing and it really does not seem to work, try something else. Make sure you give each idea a chance to work before moving on to a new plan.

Vacations at horse ranches are popular with families because they offer great chances to see the country, bond with the rest of the family and experience some adventure.

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Fitted sheets small double

Looking for the Best in Bed Comfort? This May Be Your Solution…

Young woman sleepingIs your bed comfortable? This may not be a question you ask yourself, but it’s something worth paying attention to. One way to know for sure is to see how you feel when you get up in the morning. Are you still tired? Do you feel any aches or pains that only seem to increase with time? If these have been issues for you, it may not just be you. It could be your bed.

If you’re trying to gauge your bed comfort, pay attention to these three factors:

  • Memory foam: Memory foam mattresses became popular a few years ago because of how they conform to one’s shape while sleeping. They are also ideal for couples because they won’t disturb one another when they change positions at night. If you’ve been using an old-fashioned spring mattress, it may be time to consider this popular alternative.
  • Adjustable controls: Adjustable beds may make you think of hospital beds, but the adjustable mattresses in homes are nothing like the ones used for medical purposes. These beds come in all sizes, from twin to king size adjustable beds. In fact, king and queen beds may be equipped with dual controls, so each partner can find his or her own optimal comfort level. Adjustable memory foam beds are also popular, so you can combine the comfort of memory foam with the functionality of an adjustable bed.
  • State-of-the-art features: Adjustable controls and memory foam aren’t the only features that are must-haves for bed comfort. Adjustable beds, especially, also come with additional options, like heating and massage functions. If you choose a Craftmatic® brand adjustable bed, for instance, then you can see these two options. These features can provide temporary relief from conditions such as low back pain, minor aches and pains due to muscular fatigue or overexertion, edema or swelling of the legs, poor local blood circulation of the legs, symptoms of hiatus hernia, nighttime heartburn, and symptoms of gastric reflux. Additionally, the heating accessory itself may provide temporary relief from mild arthritis and joint pain, as well as muscle pain associated with stress and tension. This is in addition to the benefits of sleeping in an upright position, which may help reduce or ease light and occasional snoring.

Have more questions about finding the most comfortable bed you can get? Make sure to contact a trusted manufacturer, and leave a comment with questions or recommendations.

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Healthcare services

How to Improve Your Health Without Using Drugs

Young woman sleepingInvesting in electric adjustable beds is one of the few lifestyle changes you can make that will have a positive impact on your overall health. Here are a few areas of your health that an adjustable bed can lead to improvement:

Back Health
A flat bed offers no support to your spinal cord, which could be the culprit behind your back pain, or could aggravate a back injury you sustained elsewhere. Many medical professionals who treat back injuries recommend that patients sleep with their back resting at an upward incline and the foot of the bed raised so the knees are bent. This alleviates pressure on the spine while patients are in the same position throughout the night.

Reduced Acid Reflux
Trying to sleep can be a miserable time for a person suffering from acid reflux. When the person reclines, acid from the stomach moves to the esophagus, which causes an uncomfortable burning sensation in the chest. By using electric adjustable beds, acid reflux sufferers are able to rest with their head 6 to 8 inches above their stomach. Through the power of gravity, the amount of acid that reaches the esophagus is reduced.

Improved Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a potentially life threatening condition in which the airways are blocked while a person sleeps, preventing them from breathing. The symptoms from sleep apnea can be improved with the use of adjustable bed systems, by naturally readjusting the airways and preventing obstructions such as the tongue from blocking the patient’s ability to breath.

Reduction of Restless Leg Syndrome
People with restless leg syndrome experience pain or discomfort in their legs when they try to sleep. Most treatments for restless leg syndrome involve medication to mask the pain or induce sleepiness in spite of it. Some patients have found that using electric adjustable beds enables them to elevate the legs into a position that they can sleep comfortably, without medication.

Efficient Digestion
Looking into adjustable bed options is a good way to improve your digestive health. Lying vertically after you eat inhibits your body’s ability to process food the way it should. By sleeping in an upright position, your digestive system is at the ideal angle for digesting food efficiently. Some studies link improved digestion to weight loss.

Craftmatic® Adjustable Beds equipped with optional heat & massage also may provide temporary relief from: • Low Back Pain • Minor Aches and Pains Due to Muscular Fatigue or Overexertion • Edema or Swelling of the Legs • Poor Local Blood Circulation of the Legs • Symptoms of Hiatus Hernia • Nighttime Heartburn • Symptoms of Gastric Reflux • The optional heating accessory provides temporary relief from Mild Arthritis and Joint Pain, as well as Muscle Pain Associated with Stress and Tension • Sleeping in an upright position may Reduce or Ease Light and Occasional Snoring