Entry Christmas Decor
11/20/2017
It's the most wonderful time of the year, celebrate your guest the minute they walk through the door. Today, I am sharing my entry Christmas decor.This post is sponsored by Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart. Affiliate links have been added for your convenience. All the opinions and love of the products are mine. All year long this space provides an area for hanging your coat or stashing your gloves. With a few decor items I transformed it in to the perfect farmhouse Christmas entry, suitable for welcoming the holidays and guests. Here's what you need to add a little Christmas cheer:
I use these galvanized lanterns all year long. They are perfect for every season. You can add a candle or seasonal decor, use one or more as a centerpiece, on your mantle or anywhere you want. I made three, snow globe lanterns, watch the quick video: The little red truck with a Christmas tree in the back adds a touch of whimsy and it completes the Christmas tree sign. I love the one stop shopping at Walmart for all my Better Homes & Gardens Christmas items and the other finishing touches used to complete this look. I added 3 command hooks at the top to secure the garland. They are the unsung heroes of Christmas decorating, out of site and they can work for so many different situations. I use them on my windows for wreaths and to hang seasonal pictures in places that I don't normally have art. Add a little or a lot of Christmas decor to entry, shop the post: Keep up with all the beautiful Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart choices: Instagram – Twitter – Facebook – Pinterest – Website I love finding affordable decor and organization items at Walmart and sharing it with my readers, I am proud to be a part of the Better Homes & Gardens Live Better Blogger Network!
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When I'm writing a cover letter, all my deepest insecurities surface. I question my writing skills, my professional experience and, really, my entire life. How do I introduce myself? Do I repeat what's on my resume? How much should I talk about myself? Do I brag? How can I mirror my whole being on to this one page? “People feel daunted by the thought of writing a cover letter,” says Loren Margolis, CEO of Training & Leadership Success, a global consulting firm that specializes in executive coaching and leadership development. Margolis says a cover letter is really only as complicated as you make it. To tackle yours head on, you need to first understand its purpose. What's the Purpose of a Cover Letter Anyway?All those questions swimming in your head? They'll settle down when you start to understand the purpose of your cover letter. First, think about a cover letter just as it is: a cover letter. It's a one-page brief that physically (or virtually) covers a copy of your resume. Second, think about your cover letter as a way to emphasize the most relevant points presented in your resume and to provide extra context. Your resume should point out your transferrable skills; those are the skills or experiences you have that'll translate to your success. Your cover letter then explains those skills with a little more flavor, color and personality. It also proves you have the communication skills you need for the job. Margolis compares the cover letter to a short commercial, a quick piece that captures your audience's attention. As creepy as it might sound, Margolis says you want it to be like you're whispering in the reader's ear: “Hey! Look at this! Look at me!” How to Format Your Cover LetterWith cover letters, it's easy to get hung up in the details. It's called procrastination. Many of us are really good at it. For that, here are some details to consider before diving into the meat of the letter, courtesy of Margolis:
If you're simply copying and pasting the cover letter into the body of an email, which is fine, go ahead and delete all that other stuff and start with “Dear…”
“That's just so spammy,” she says. Instead, find the hiring manager's name. If you've exhausted your search, opt for the name of the recruiter. Or you could even go as far as calling the company and its hiring department and asking who the hiring manager is. “Even if it's the wrong person, have a name,” Margolis says. “You have to have a name.” But don't just make it up. Say you're applying for a brand manager position but can't find the brand director. Maybe the vice president of the department is listed on LinkedIn. Go with that name.
The Three Simple Parts to Include in Your Cover LetterGoogle “cover letter,” and you'll get pages upon pages of templates and best practices and theories and expert opinions. So, no, there's no singular universal answer to the best way to write a cover letter. But there's no need to make it more difficult than it has to be. To keep it simple, Margolis suggests a three-paragraph “You, Me, We” approach. Paragraph 1: You“One of the biggest errors people make is that they talk all about themselves,” Margolis says. However, your first paragraph should be about you - as in the recipient, the potential employer, the company. If someone referred you for the position or you have some sort of connection to the company, mention that in the first sentence, Margolis says. That could be something like: “So and so, from this-and-that company, recommended I apply for this role.” But mention the specific role. This is important. So, name drop. That hooks 'em. It's called networking. If you weren't referred, just start by saying you're excited, pleased or delighted to apply for the position. Next, state how you found out about the position. Was it your connection? A LinkedIn posting? The company's website? Now, mention what excites you about the company. You'll need to do some research on this part. Is the company a leader in the marketplace? Known for its innovative products? Perhaps it was recently ranked on a “Best Places to Work” list. Or maybe it won an award. Then get more specific about the department and what it's doing. Bottom line: This part has to be tailored to the company and the position. Paragraph 2: MeThat's you now! For this paragraph, Margolis suggests choosing two to three transferrable skills. Remember, those are the skills that can easily translate to your success in this new role. And start bragging. “It's the gracious brag, graciously patting yourself on the back and saying, 'I believe my two years of experience in x will lend to success with your team,'” Margolis says as an example. You want to use more concrete, specific examples in this section, too, offering more details than your resume. Be as straightforward as saying, “For example…” “It's OK to repeat your resume; you're just shedding a different form of light on it,” Margolis says. Tie this paragraph up with a nice little bow of a conclusion sentence, something as simple as, “I'd be excited to bring these skills to your team.” Paragraph 3: WeMargolis says there's not a whole lot left to say in the paragraph. Even two sentences, done right, can suffice. This is where you tie it all together. You plus me. We. Talk about the next steps. Mention meeting for an interview or attending the company's open house. Then mention how you'll follow up. Will you call next week? Email? If that doesn't feel appropriate, you can always thank the recruiter or manager for their time. 4 Things to Avoid in Your Cover LetterWe've all heard those cover letter horror stories and the “Crap, I didn't attach it” mutterings. These, however, are four simple things Margolis encourages applicants avoid. 1. Jargon and/or AcronymsJust write it out. Even if you're entering a job in healthcare policy, Margolis says by way of example, don't use ACA - just write out Affordable Care Act. 2. Slang or ShortcutsLOL. This doesn't work. Ever. Even if you're using it ironically. 3. Negative Comments“You'd be surprised…” Margolis says when mentioning this. Even if it's intended to be positive, avoid the “I've seen reports of your company's poor culture in the news, and I really think I can help” comments. Just leave it sunshine and roses. 4. An Old AOL Email AddressWhatever you do, be sure to send your cover letter from a professional email address. This could be some combination of your first and last name. Not [email protected]. Margolis' Final Words of Cover Letter AdviceRemember: Every cover letter is going to be different, depending on your field, your position and you. However, Margolis suggests always asking yourself two questions before submitting your cover letter:
You should feel proud of your cover letter - not like it's an extra burden you've slapped on top of your resume.
The “Three Cs” are concise, compelling and effectively communicating your value. Check, check and check? Spend some time proofreading and revising. Read your cover letter aloud (a trick I use in all my writing) or have a friend or family member read it. Then, stop banging your head against the desk and overthinking it - just send it! Carson Kohler (@CarsonKohler) is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder. She was a TA for a business writing class in graduate school and spent a year grading cover letters. Her students hated her. This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017. This Week's Favorite Finds
11/17/2017
Hi! I hope you have had a good week. This week has definitely been a blur. It's always busy leading up to the holidays, but it is such a great time of year. I love all the celebrating and excuses to hang with the people I love. It's also a great time for shopping. Believe […] The post This Week's Favorite Finds appeared first on BECKI OWENS. A converted dairy barn for sale in rural Massachusetts for $925,000 could have many modern design applications for its next owner. Located in the tiny town of Sterling in the center of the state, the home is ready for someone to take advantage of its many walls. “This is a stunning canvas to display art,” says listing agent Kevin Balboni. The homeowners, who are moving to Colorado, did just that with their own art collection. After purchasing the home in 2004, the couple moved in during the fall of 2007 after completing a three-year renovation. Designed by Isamu Kanda of the Boston architecture firm I-Kanda Architects, the four-bedroom, 4.5-bath home measures a generous 5,550 square feet. The property's first chapter was as a horse barn, then in 1832 it was developed into a dairy farm with cattle. Later it became a chair-making mill. Because the barn had sat empty for some time after its tenure as a horse-breeding farm during the 1960s, extensive work was needed to make it habitable. What's unique about the design is that this home has only one interior door, which, when paired with 30-foot ceilings, provides a real sense of airiness. During the construction, Colonial Barn Restoration-a firm that specializes in reimagining salvaged barn wood-preserved exposed hand-hewn beams that date to the Civil War. “They essentially saved all of the timbers from the original structure and built a house around it,” says Balboni. “It's amazing they were able to save these beautiful pine and chestnut timbers.” Other improvements include radiant heating throughout and new cork flooring on the second floor (all of the other floors are concrete). Adding windows here and there brought in more natural light. The great room with a see-through fireplace is a cozy place come winter. A wide door-with glass panels on each side-leads to an outdoor living room to enjoy during summer months. In the kitchen, top-of-the-line appliances will appease foodies and prolific entertainers. Bathrooms resembling spas also edge the property into modern times. Another luxurious perk is the walk-in closet, which is a veritable showroom. Located about an hour's drive from Boston, “this (kind of property) is just not the norm for Sterling,” says Balboni, who had to go into the Berkshires to research comps. “If it were closer to Boston, the value would be more and it would also be easier to sell. This is an outlier to be in a town such as Sterling.” Still, Balboni has fielded a few buyers. “The very first offer came in from a woman who does work in Boston. She was willing to make the commute.” For this cool converted barn, a long commute may be a small price to pay. The post Former Dairy Barn in Massachusetts Transformed Into Modern Mansion appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®. |
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