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Updating Our Home Windows

We bought our first home last year and had been giving it updates to make it look more “fresh.” We had done some fun things to the interior, but it was time to give the outside a much needed boost.

The paint on the exterior of the house was newer and in great condition, so instead of re-painting we decided to look in to getting new windows installed. Our neighbors down the street had amazing windows, so I thought I’d ask who they used. Theirs were installed by California Window Masters, and she highly reccomened them. It didn’t take long for me to see why.

They were a pleasure to work with from the start. They offer an expansive selection of window options, so we were able to find the perfect home windows to go with the style we were looking for. What they pointed out that I hadn’t even though of was how much energy we were going to be saving!

It turns out the old windows were leaking and letting all of the air out of the house. Our new windows will have a lasting seal which will drastically reduce our monthly energy costs–what a bonus! They installed all of the windows so quickly and efficiently, and wow does the house look great!

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The Perfect Dentist is Hard to Find

When I first moved to Fair Oaks, I had a hard time finding a dentist. Until I found My Tooth Spa in Fair Oaks, I had been traveling all the way to Downtown Sacramento and it just wasn’t time or cost efficient. But I really liked My Tooth Spa, so when I found them, I wanted to hold on to the great dentist I had found.

So when I found out that I was going to be moving to Roseville, I was sad that I would have to select a new dentist. Even though I loved My Tooth Spa, my awesome dentist in Fair Oaks and Carmichael, I really didn’t think it would be practical to have a dentist in Fair Oaks and have to drive a million miles just for a 30 minute appointment.

I asked my Fair Oaks dentist for a referral and she told me that I was in luck: they just opened a My Tooth Spa in Roseville! I was so happy that, not only would I not have to search for another dentist, but I also wouldn’t have to search for anyone that compared to My Tooth Spa—I could have both!

So after I had my last appointment at the Fair Oaks My Tooth Spa, I asked them to transfer all of my records to the Roseville My Tooth Spa.  And on top of that, they even scheduled an appointment for me that was six months out! I didn’t even need to call the Roseville office myself! It all worked out perfectly.

I trust my Roseville dentist because My Tooth Spa offers comprehensive care that I know I can count on every time I visit the dentist. From dental exams to cavity fillings and cosmetic procedures, I know that I will be taken care of. I feel thankful that I have found a dentist that suits my needs. Not only do they have multiple locations, but they offer care and service that I haven’t experienced elsewhere.

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An Outsourced Accounting Team

files sit on table for bookkeeping accounting purposesOur company has recently been through some restructuring wherein we have done a lot of shifting of departments and positions. One direction we were looking to go in was in outsourcing our accounting and payroll services, so we hired e-Office Team to take care of our accounting services.

We still have some employees who participate in the finance department for our company, but for the most part, we wanted it to be done by a third party. After talking to several other business owners in the area and talking to them about ways to save money and streamline processes, one suggestion was to hire an outside company to do all of our accounting tasks so we could basically go without having an accounting department altogether.

Basically, our accounting department was absorbed into our finance department. We downsized a bit, and whichever employees we retained were placed in finance. We interviewed several accounting companies, but we felt that hiring a smaller and local company would be beneficial to us in the long run.

Many businesses the size of my company hire large accounting firms, but I felt that we would get better service if we went with an accounting firm that was smaller and had smaller clients. In fact, when we were talking to the owner of e-Office Team, he was telling us that one benefit to hiring them would be that every client gets a specific point of contact. This means that my company will get a personal representative who will be familiar with our company’s needs to be available if ever we need assistance or have questions.

e-Office Team will also be doing our payroll services, which again cuts down on having to hire someone within our company to handle all of our payroll services.  This way, e-Office team can just do all of it for us, and we wouldn’t have to worry about it at all. We have a computerized clock-in/clock-out system, and e-Office Team does the rest.

We are really happy with the way that the restructuring of the business has gone. Although we would have liked to have kept an accounting department in-house, we just could afford it anymore. It is nice that we can get accounting services for a decent price and be assured that all of our accounting needs are taken care of.

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Cousin Time at Rendez-vous

My cousin from San Francisco was coming to town last weekend, so I brainstormed a list of places I could take her that would be different from her haunts in the City. After all, Sacramento does have its own unique charm—if you look for it. Among other things, Sacramento has a lot of great local wineries  perfect for wine tasting Sacramento in some really neat places. For example, I recently discovered the Old Sugar Mill in Clarksburg after doing a half marathon there. It’s like Napa, but has a decidedly more country feel. It’s charming and quaint—perfect to bring my city slicker cousin to.

We ended up making a day of it, nearly driving the entire way near the river. We actually had lunch at Swabbies on the river and made our way to the Delta. It was a perfect day to be on the Delta and an even more perfect fall day to go wine tasting. My cousin may have the City at her fingertips, but I was showing her something she didn’t get to see all the time. And that’s why I love Sacramento, you can go from the grit of downtown to the country in a matter of minutes.

When we got to the Old Sugar Mill, we took a walk around to take some pictures of the pretty fall leaves and the colors changing everywhere. It was just gorgeous. After we got all the photos we wanted, we went inside for some wine tasting. The first thing we saw when we walked in was someone sampling olive oil and balsamic vinegar. We were a little hungry, and we never turn down free food, so we tried some and IT WAS DELICIOUS! Sure, we were hungry, but we were pretty sure it would have been awesome even if we weren’t desperate for food at the time we tried it. Once we had the oil-soaked bread in us, we were ready for wine.

As it turned out, the people who were handing out olive oil where a part of one of the wineries called Rendezvous Winery. I didn’t remember them from the time I went to Old Sugar Mill before, but they said they had only been around for about a year. We went in and decided to taste some of their wines, and we ended up hanging out there for the rest of the afternoon. We talked to the winemaker who used to make wines in Napa, but has moved his passion to the Sacramento region. He was very friendly and talked us through the wine making process as well as introduced us to each of the wines we tried. By the end of the afternoon, we had nearly run out of time. So instead of tasting more wine, we just wore off our buzz by walking around the grounds again.

We had such a great day with Rendez-vous and my cousin and I have agreed to make wine tasting at the Old Sugar Mill a tradition. Only, we promised each other we would try to go to other wineries next time.

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Picking Out Granite Countertops Online v. In-Store

It’s not every day that your dream bathroom is stretched out before you. It’s also not every day that you find out that your dream of having the perfect granite countertops in your bathroom can become reality. When I visited the Countertop Designs, Inc.’s showroom a few weeks ago, that’s exactly how I felt. I had been wanting to install granite countertops in my bathrooms for ages, but I could never decide on exactly which design I wanted. Finally, after visiting the showroom, I was introduced to my dream bathroom!

I actually just went in on a whim. I’d been saving up for a while for the countertops, not wanting to skimp on materials or design. My only problem was that I could never decide on the design and color I wanted. It was really helpful to have someone helping me out and educating me about the benefits of certain products and brands as well as helping me decide what I wanted for my bathroom redesign.

Luckily, I had photos of my bathroom with me and the representative at the showroom was able to help me select just what color would look great with the color scheme I had in my bathroom already. I was prepared to redo the countertops, but I was very interested in keeping the colors of the décor and towels I had already painstakingly chosen. The person helping me at Countertop Designs was extremely helpful in assisting me in the planning of my project. It was nice to have someone to bounce ideas off of when there were hundreds of options laid before me.

The granite I ended up selecting was made by Arizona Tile and I felt it perfectly reflected the tone I was going for in the bathroom. The color is called “Caucasus Gray” and it is perfectly neutral but makes a statement at the same time. I think it will be perfect for the granite countertops I was looking to find.

I am so happy that I just happened upon Countertop Design’s showroom because I probably wouldn’t have been able to pick out new countertops for my bathroom anytime soon. It was great to have a physical location to visit so that I didn’t have to imagine the granite installed. In fact, I noticed that some of the materials I had looked at online appeared much differently when I saw them in person. Some of them looked better in person, some not.  I would highly recommend going to visit Countertop Designs to pick out countertops. They were exceedingly helpful and I will definitely see them again when I need to pick out kitchen countertops.

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A Premier Kitchen

For years, my wife and I talked about remodeling the kitchen. We knew exactly which appliances we wanted and where we wanted them. We knew what kind of countertops we wanted and what they were going to look like. We virtually had it planned out. The only thing we didn’t have until recently was the funding. But finally, after fifteen years of dreaming about our kitchen remodel, we finally have our new kitchen. And we have Premier Remodeling and Construction to thank for it!

Last year, our youngest son graduated college, and with all of the money we were no longer putting toward his Ivy-league education, we were finally able to afford the kitchen remodel.

We heard about Premier Remodeling and Construction from a friend of ours who built his own house a number of years ago. In the ten years it took to build his home, he must have dealt with hundreds of contractors, some good, others bad. So we trust his opinion because he knows a good contractor when he sees one. Even more importantly, he knows how to spot a bad one.

He had to call Premier after another contractor botched a project in his bathroom. He was extremely impressed by their professionalism, their craftsmanship, and the way they finished the project quickly and without delay. He said that of all the contractors he’s used, Premier stood out to him for those reasons. Upon that recommendation, we knew that Premier Remodeling and Construction was the company to do our kitchen.

Premier did a wonderful job, too! We spoke to them about out vision and what we wanted, and they took it from there. Of course they involved us in the project, but we were never worried that they wouldn’t get the job done within the quoted time frame and the quoted price.

The finished result was better than we ever even imagined. Premier understood our vision and executed it exactly the way we wanted them too. We even had the team over for dinner to thank them for designing such an amazing kitchen for us. Premier surely lives up to its name!

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Home Design Blog in Sacramento

Home ideasLocal blogger Pierre Thomas, has just launched a new blog called Sacramento Home Design. The blog is set to be one of the best blogs in the Sacramento area for DIY home ideas and design articles. Sacramento is a great location for a home and design blog. The nucleus of the city, downtown, is being revitalized which has sparked an interest in the residential community for home improvement ideas.

Born in Sacramento and starting a few blogs, David plans to write in the home design blog just about everyday. He also just purchased a home and will be updating with his on remodel on a step by step process. Using only local companies, he is providing local reviews of companies he feels would be great for other home owners in Sacramento and also Sacramento.

The blog launched just last week and already has numerous articles about local remodel companies. The blog will no doubt become one of the premier home blogs in the area. For more information on Sacramento Home Design, feel free to drop by their blog. We know we’ll be exchanging blog ideas with them so I’m sure you’ll be as well.

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The Remodel You’ve All Been Waiting For

Premier Kitchen Remodel

Kitchen Remodel in Sacramento CA

We waited a long time to remodel our house. As a reward to ourselves as new empty nesters, we decided to finally remodel the house. Now that we didn’t have a bunch of rugrats running around, we figured it would be a good way to keep busy and it was the perfect time to renovate our home.

We called Premier Remodeling & Construction because they were referred to us by two different friends of ours. The two friends could not have more different styles when it comes to furniture and décor. One of them likes a very rustic and vintage feel and the other one is minimalist and modern. But Premier managed to completely capture the styles of both people to make a one of a kind home for both of them.

Though we had a few remodel projects to accomplish, we had Premier start with the kitchen. We had always wanted to have a kitchen that was open and welcoming, but our counter space was always cluttered and there wasn’t enough room for us to entertain. Premier created our dream kitchen, complete with all stainless steel and brand-new matching appliances. They did a great job redoing the floor and countertops too. Everything formed a very cohesive design and stayed true to what we had in mind.

Also in the kitchen, we had Premier install custom cabinets. After finally deciding on what kind of wood we wanted and which style we preferred, we elected for a lighter finish with more stainless steel hardware. An option that was available was also European hingeless cabinets that would make the kitchen look more sophisticated that it was.

Another remodel project we had them do was our bathroom, which was in a mild state of disrepair. The tile in our bathroom was just terrible and it was in serious need of being renovated. We had them install a beautiful vanity with stainless steel hardware and dark wood. The result was beyond stunning. It almost made us wish we had renovated the guest bedroom so at least people would be able to see how great our new bathroom is! Premier did a fantastic job of getting everything right the first time!

Now, my friends ask me for referrals when they come over and see what we’ve done with our house. It’s surprising that we waited this long, because now we wish we had done it earlier.

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Gingivitis: What You Need to Know

 

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Ultimate Dental Group of Sacramento and Elk Grove for providing this article on gingivitis.

Of people aged between 35 and 44, over 50% have or have had gingivitis. Gingivitis is a treatable condition, however it can be dangerous if left untreated. Untreated gingivitis can result in more serious periodontal disease, which is a contributory factor of heart and lung disease.

What is it?

Gingivitis is one of the most common oral ailments, and luckily, it is also entirely reversible and preventable.

What causes it?

Gingivitis is caused by plaque buildup in the teeth that create byproduct that damages the gums. Not brushing properly or failing to floss can lead to symptoms of gingivitis.

How do I know I have it?

Symptoms of gingivitis include red or swollen gums, gums that bleed easily and mild inflammation of the gums due to plaque buildup.

How can I prevent it?

The most important thing you can do to prevent gingivitis is by removing plaque regularly and properly.

  • Brush twice daily with a soft-bristled or power toothbrush. An electrical toothbrush can remove up to two times more plaque than an ordinary toothbrush.
  • Use an anti-gingivitis or anti-plaque toothbrush that contains fluoride so that it will strengthen teeth and prevent decay.
  • Use a mouthwash containing cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), which is an effective anti-microbial agent.
  • Be sure to floss once a day to stimulate gums and remove food particles and plaque buildup between teeth and around the gum line.
  • Most importantly, make sure to visit your local dentist and receive biannual check ups to remove plaque.

For more information on gingivitis or oral care contact Ultimate Dental Group of Sacramento and Elk Grove CA. They are the premier family dentist in northern CA. 7521 West Stockton Blvd. Suite 130 Sacramento, CA 95823

 

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San Diego Movers Provide Green Service that Saves Money

San Diego Residential House

Manpower Movers of San Diego is the first moving company in southern California to go green. Manpower Movers, who is located in San Diego and provides local and long distance moves, is now offering an eco-crates program to reduce the amount of boxes their customers use on each move.

The average move can use anywhere from 60-120 boxes, and most of the boxes are discarded at the end of the move. Even the boxes that are recycled require a significant amount of energy to make and recycle. The eco-crates Manpower Movers provides, are designed to eliminate boxes all together.

The eco-crates, which Manpower Movers offers for free, are dropped off at the customer’s house before each move. At the end of the move, Manpower Movers will pick up the eco-crates once the customer finishes unpacking.

The eco-crates not only save the environment, but they also save the customer money. Many people think of green products as being over priced and more expensive. In the case of Manpower’s eco-crates, their goal is to save the customer time and money. Since the service is free and is not incorporated into the overall price, customer’s save money by not having to purchase boxes. And by not having to accumulate boxes over the span of a couple weeks, the customer saves time by not having to go to various commercial outlets looking for used boxes.

So far, the program has been a success. It’s been a win-win for people moving and also for Manpower Movers. Manpower projects they’re saving about 3600 boxes per year, and saving their customers about $150 per move. For more information on Manpower Movers eco-crates service in San Diego, they are located at 7960 Silverton Avenue Suite 125, San Diego, CA 92126 and can be reached at 619-961-8800.

 

 

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