Beautiful Peonies in the garden
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Beautiful Peonies in the garden

Peonies in the garden sounds so delightful doesn’t it? Peonies are one of my favorite blooms- and they are often on repeat over here during the most wonderful time of spring- Peony season.

girl with peonies in garden

This year, the peonies are blooming away beautifully right now and I am mildly obsessed with how pretty those layers of lovely look mingling with the rest of the garden. Today I am sharing a few peeks of how the garden is growing in this year and a bit more about our peonies.

Peonies in the Garden

Can you even with how pretty this basket full of

Home Renovations That Will Pay You Back
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Home Renovations That Will Pay You Back

Aleksandar Nakic / Getty Images

Aleksandar Nakic / Getty Images

When it’s time to remodel, many homeowners head to home improvement stores like Lowe’s to buy the supplies they need to complete their home projects. It’s a smart idea, especially since the right projects can put more money back into your pocket.

Read: 5 Expensive Renovations Homeowners Always Regret
Advice: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000

However, home renovation costs can be substantial: The typical bathroom remodel alone ranges between $6,620 and $16,673, according to HomeAdvisor. Meanwhile, a kitchen remodel ranges from $14,555 to $40,399.

If you want to choose the

Home Improvements and Your Taxes
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Home Improvements and Your Taxes

Man and woman homeowners measure wood to cut for their home improvement project.

Certain energy-saving home improvements can yield tax credits at the time you make them.

Home improvements and taxes

When you make a home improvement, such as installing central air conditioning or replacing the roof, you can’t deduct the cost in the year you spend the money. But, if you keep track of those expenses, they can help you reduce your taxes in the year you sell your house.

Improvements versus repairs

Money you spend on your home breaks down into two categories, tax-wise: the cost of improvements versus the cost of repairs.

Capital improvements

You add the cost of capital

Is borrowing against your investments a good idea?
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Is borrowing against your investments a good idea?

One of the lesser-known benefits of a brokerage account is what’s called a portfolio line of credit, also known as a margin loan. With a portfolio line of credit your broker will lend you money against the value of your securities portfolio, using your stocks, bonds and funds as collateral for the loan. The larger your portfolio, the larger the amount you can borrow.

Here’s how a portfolio line of credit works and whether you should consider using one.

How a portfolio line of credit works

Many brokers allow their clients to take out a portfolio of lines of credit

How to create open kitchen cupboards
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How to create open kitchen cupboards

The kitchen… always an ever changing and evolving space over here it seems. But there is one thing we did when we first moved into this house that was a game changer in the kitchen. It involved the kitchen cupboard doors and paint.

kitchen cupboards

Slow Changes

Slow changes and renovations were pretty much the motto here when we moved in. Partly because of design changes and ideas that I got on a whim and partly because over the years we updated the kitchen to be as functional as budget allowed – rather than remodeling to achieve the style we would like.

The Easiest Fresh Guacamole Recipe
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The Easiest Fresh Guacamole Recipe

Did I just hear that magic word… ‘fresh guacamole’? I mean, I’m always up for some chips and guacamole. And salsa. And baked burritos or a taco salad. Okay- I am always up for delicious Mexican food. You too? Then this post is for you.

Guacamole and more

With Cinco de Mayo tomorrow- it is a perfect time to enjoy one of our favorite guacamole recipes but let’s be honest- any day of the year is a good day for fresh guacamole. I am also sharing a fresh salsa recipe and favorite Mexican corn stew recipe below.

Salsa Fresco

Full

Creating a Garden Potting Bench
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Creating a Garden Potting Bench

It is that time of year when all things garden are in full swing. And over here, the greenhouse is bustling with potting and planting. Though we have a dedicated space for planting -you don’t need a greenhouse or potting shed to have a charming place to play and garden. Adding a potting bench or potting table area in your yard is perfect and will bring all kinds of garden fun all summer long.

Vintage Terra Cotta

Potting Benches

Such a lovely little place to play and enjoy -gardens bring so much beauty and contentment. There is something about growing your own food

Tornado in Cole kills 3;  damage reported in Shawnee and across Oklahoma
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Tornado in Cole kills 3; damage reported in Shawnee and across Oklahoma

A cluster of severe storms that moved across central Oklahoma Wednesday evening produced tornadoes that damaged homes and businesses in Cole and Shawnee and left tens of thousands of residents without power.

As the sun rose Thursday, videos posted by storm chasers on Twitter showed under-construction homes near Cole that had been heavily damaged the night before.

more: See what tornadoes in Cole, Shawnee and other storms look like across Oklahoma

Damages, deaths, injuries caused by the storm are still being evaluated

Emergency responders and people