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Simple Steps to Become a Qualified Accountant

In this blog, we discuss the reasons why you should pursue a career in accounting and the steps you need to take to become an experienced accountant.

Despite its abundance of opportunities, best aat accounting training can appear to be a challenging field to enter. How much time does it take to become an accountant? And when you become one, what advantages can you anticipate?

This blog looks at the reasons why you should think about becoming an accountant and the steps you need to take to get there.

Choose Your Path Before

beginning your search for a career in accounting, you should decide which level of education is best for you. There are many options, with ACCA and CIMA being two of the most well-known.

The ACCA is widely recognized. It is one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing accounting degrees. If you think you might like to work in a variety of roles, the ACCA certification is a great option.

The ACCA qualification can help you get work in public or private accounting. Alternately, you could start your own accounting firm.

People who want to work as management accountants will do best with the CIMA certification. In particular, pursuing a CIMA certification might be your best option if you want to work for a company.

Know Your Exemptions

The ACCA and CIMA want to give you credit for your previous knowledge and abilities. By allowing you to skip portions of the exams, knowing if you are eligible for exemptions and which ones to look for will help you study more efficiently.

As a result, you will be able to begin your job search and obtain certification more quickly.

Exemptions from the ACCA : The ACCA may grant exemptions to nine Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills exams and Foundation level qualifications. Unfortunately, you will not be eligible for a work-related exemption.

Before claiming an exemption, you should carefully consider your eligibility. After all, the information you acquire through study can assist you in passing the more difficult tests that lie ahead of you.

It might be in your best interest to study for that portion of the test regardless of whether you qualify for an exemption or not.

CIMA Exemptions : You may be exempt from taking the CIMA exams if you have a degree or other qualifications. You can look through a database on their website to see if you qualify.

The majority of qualifications are based on your degree. However, if you are a member of ICMAP or possess another relevant qualification, you may also be eligible for an exemption.

Studying online can help you pass your professional accounting exams. Let’s collaborate to get you qualified quickly!

Select a Program

Prior to beginning your exam preparation, you will need to select a program. You will have a lot of choices, whether you want an online program or a traditional learning environment.

Think about how adaptable your learning needs to be. An online study program might be best for you if you need to study on your own time or have an unpredictable schedule. However, you can benefit from live discussions and social interactions if you are able to attend class on time.

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What is the difference between an orangery and a conservatory

Garden rooms, wooden conservatories, and orangeries; Each of these three distinct kinds of extensions has its own unique characteristics. We’ve made it easy with our expert guide because we know that knowing which one is right for your home can be difficult.

We are frequently asked to explain the distinction between an orangery and a conservatory. By creating a bright and airy interior and establishing a coherent connection between your house and your garden, a glazed extension instantly transforms the space you live in and brings the outside inside.

However, what distinguishes an orangery from a garden room and what distinguishes a conservatory from an orangery? How can you determine which is best for your house? Basically they can be in every way classed as ‘garden room augmentations’, yet they are at last characterized by the extents of coating, lumber, and workmanship materials utilized in the building plan.

Let’s go over the various kinds of extensions in greater detail: what exactly is a conservatory

During the 1980s, conservatories were a very common type of glazed extension. They are usually made of uPVC and rattan furniture, and their walls and roof are usually made of glass and set on a brick foundation. The idea of easily adding more space to their homes, which could be used as a bright, spacious formal lounge or dining room with close-up views of their gardens, was welcomed by homeowners.

A conservatory’s extensive space can be filled with as much natural light as possible because it is mostly made of glass. Unfortunately, traditional conservatories have developed a bad reputation for being cold in the winter and hot and stuffy in the summer.

Additionally, the uPVC had a propensity to age and turn yellow; not exactly an appealing appearance. Conservatories started to go out of style as people realized that their expensive investments could only be used for half the year when the weather was nice.

This is regrettable because a high-quality conservatory made of wood can be a beautiful addition to any home. Underfloor heating, solar control glazing, and roof vents that help to improve circulation, as well as solar control glazing that limits the amount of heat coming in from the sun, are all solutions to the common temperature issues.

What is an orangery or orangerie

Orangeries were a symbol of wealth and prestige among the elite in the 17th century. Traditionally, orangeries were used to shield imported citrus plants from the harsh British winters. With their elegant architectural lines and timeless style, the aristocracy thought these beautiful rooms gave their mansions a sense of splendor and opulence.

Since the conservatory has become less popular, more and more people are choosing modern garden rooms and orangeries with timber frames. A garden room or orangery extension is still the pinnacle of luxury and exudes an air of opulent elegance because it combines perfectly balanced design with flawless functionality.

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How to Choose The Correct Moving Truck Size

No matter how many times you’ve moved, there are always challenges to overcome. With experience, it might become easier to manage, but there are many obstacles to overcome. Which plastic storage boxes storage unit to rent, which size moving truck to buy, how many cartons or containers to buy, and how to pack fragile items are just a few examples.

We will concentrate on one aspect: how to select the appropriate size of moving truck. The truck must be packed correctly to avoid damage and accidents. If you choose a truck that is either too big or too small, you could run into a lot of problems. It might put everything you packed inside in danger.

The right-sized truck will make your move easier on your budget and more accessible if you consider its proper functionality. A larger truck is more expensive to rent than a smaller one, so you should also think about your budget. Read on for all the information you need to choose the right size truck for your move.

Bedroom Count Technique

The bedroom count technique is one of the most common methods for determining the appropriate moving truck size. A chart that you can use to see how many bedrooms a moving truck can hold is provided by many moving and storage companies that offer moving services. It’s a fairly simple method!

When deciding where to start, these size estimation charts are helpful. Be that as it may, they are vague assessments, not altogether exact. Some bedrooms are larger and can hold the same amount of furniture and other items as two or three smaller bedrooms.

Additionally, there are a lot of rooms in homes that don’t fit into standard room sizes, such as studios, sitting rooms, work offices, storage rooms, mud closets, and studios. They might not be the right size for the chart, but you can get a general idea of how many people each room can hold. Using the bedroom count method, count the final number of bedrooms to easily select the appropriate moving truck size for your needs.

Determine the Truck’s Cubic Feet

Each moving truck is made to carry a certain number of items, which are typically measured in cubic feet. The dimensions of the vehicle’s interior range from the roof’s size to the total area of the floor. You can stack and distribute all of your boxes evenly, according to their weight and length, to make good use of it.

However, you might need the entire floor as opposed to the length from the floor of the truck to the ceiling, which might be more practical for you. One way or the other, except if you are moving and pressing specialists, you will require help to productively occupy the whole room. Therefore, if some items require more space than anticipated, selecting a truck that is slightly larger than your requirements is safer and preferable.

Keep in mind that this method is more accurate and reliable than the bedroom count method. Calculating the dimensions and placing the boxes in the truck in the right order might take more time. Nevertheless, it counts the total cubic space of everything you intend to store in the vehicle, which is more consistent.

Rather than measuring each item individually, pack all of your small and loose items in boxes and measure the size of the parcels. It won’t take much time and will provide a more accurate estimate of size. The total size will be approximately equivalent to the truck’s available space.

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Tips to Easily Improve Your Home’s Security This Summer

With stay-at-home requests lifted the country over, and before summer closes, families are making summer get-away arrangements. Prior to getting together the vehicle and going out to the lake or the forest, it’s brilliant to consider ways of making your home safer. There are a few straightforward and modest things that you can do now which can immeasurably work on your possibilities getting back home to find your home simply the manner in which you left it.

Activity Locksmith Sutton Coldfield has a few hints that can serve you over time, in any event, when you are not holiday.

Try not to report your get-away anticipates virtual entertainment. While your loved ones by and large aren’t a hotspot for concern, you don’t know companions of companions and other people who might approach your web-based entertainment posts. To be protected, save your get-away plans and excursion pictures for posting when you get back.

Secure your entryways and windows

Continuously take your home key off your key chain while valet leaving your vehicle, as an educated hoodlum can make a key to your home by just snapping a photo of your home key.1 Likewise ensure that you briefly eliminate that extra key you have concealed under the mat or a close by rock. On the off chance that you have sliding glass entryways, the most straightforward thing to do is to placed a stick or thick wood dowel in the base track of the sliding entryway. You can purchase slide-locking bars on the web.

You can likewise sustain the entryway by changing out the first entryway locking component with a business locking item that includes a couple of bolt locking framework that connects to the locking point of the entryway and has steel bolts that safe the way to the frame.2 Window stops, which keep windows from opening more than a few inches, are likewise smart. This is a somewhat reasonable item that can be seen as on the web.

Scene to safeguard your home

It is generally smart, regardless of the time, to ensure that shrubberies and trees don’t conceal your windows, entryways and other passageways to your home. Congested hedges can permit thieves a spot to stow away while getting to your home and discourage your neighbors from seeing a break-in. Certain individuals decide to establish prickly shrubberies under window passages as a hindrance. Scene lighting and movement actuated lighting are additionally wise ventures with regards to ruining would-be hoodlums. 3

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WHEN IS PROFESSIONAL ACNE REVISION YOUR BEST OPTION

Managing skin inflammation can appear to be a daunting struggle you won’t ever win. Certain individuals battle with skin inflammation breakouts more than others, yet the something normal among a great many people is they need to dispose of it anyway conceivable.

Over-the-counter treatments might be powerful for minor cases, yet those actually are never an assurance. A typical misguided judgment is you must have extreme skin break out scarring to fit the bill for an expert skin inflammation scar correction treatment.

That is basically not the situation, since laser hair removal in birmingham skin inflammation scar treatments can assist with even minor skin break out scars. Here are a portion of the circumstances where you ought to think about an expert treatment.

Forestall OR Change Skin break out SCARRING

Some skin inflammation is bound to make scars than others. With laser skin break out scar treatments, you can forestall skin break out scars from happening in any case by killing microorganisms around the impacted region, which could prompt more skin break out breakouts.

Yet, on the off chance that you’ve proactively experienced scarring of any seriousness, the most effective way to reexamine them is by looking for a treatment from a respectable clinical expert.

Skin inflammation is adequately troublesome to manage all alone, however when it prompts scarring, it’s not difficult to turn out to be much more reluctant. In the event that you want to conceal your skin or not associate however much you used to on the grounds that you’re humiliated in your own skin, then now is the ideal time to look for proficient laser skin break out scar treatments.

The treatments can be finished in less than 60 minutes, generally speaking, and results should be visible in just multi week. Nobody ought to must be hesitant in their skin, and an expert skin inflammation update treatment is your most ideal choice to guarantee you feel more sure with your skin.

While CONTROLLING Skin inflammation BREAKOUTS BECOME Incomprehensible

Skin inflammation breakouts can now and again happen at the absolute worst minutes. Once in a while an expert compound strip for skin inflammation could be a possibility for controlling these breakouts.

Contingent upon the guidance from your clinical expert, attempting a substance strip for skin break out could be the principal proficient treatment to attempt prior to going through laser treatments.

There are substance strips you can buy over-the-counter, yet not exclusively are these generally insufficient, they could be perilous on the off chance that not managed accurately by an expert with broad experience.

Walk-In Closet Progress – Adding Trim To The Cabinet Closets

I’m making steady progress on my walk-in closet. I finally had to take a day off on Friday, though. I had been working for two weeks straight without a break on the closet, and my exhaustion hit a point on Friday that I decided I needed to take one day to rest before I injure myself. So on Saturday, I was able to get to the fun stuff — adding trim to the boring plywood boxes and shelves. I was so excited to finally get to this point because it’s the trim and molding that make the most difference.

This is only one part of what will be a very long series of posts on my biggest built yet — my walk-in closet and laundry combination. If you missed the previous post, you can find that here: Closet Progress – The Basic Build Is Finished!

After finishing the basic build on this closet, this is what the cabinets looked like…

And because it’s the side that requires the most trim, I decided to start to start trimming out the right side of the room first.

Here’s what that side of the room looks like now with all of the trim attached. I still have to install the molding — the baseboards along the bottom and the crown molding along the top.

To trim out this side, I started with the longest horizontal pieces. On the bottom, I used 1″x4″ pre-primed lumber.

And along the top, I used 1″x6″ pre-primed lumber.

I made a mistake right from the beginning because I mitered the outside corners of the top 1×6 boards. Those should have been cut straight. But I was working alone, and wrestling that 140-inch into place and nailing it into place, there was no way I was going to take it down to cut it straight. So I decided to ignore it at this point and take care of it in a later step.

With the two top and bottom horizontal pieces in place, I then attached the long vertical pieces. I nailed all of the trim in place using 16-gauge 2-inch nails through the face of the trim pieces and into the edges of the plywood. I used 1″x2″ pieces for the two outside vertical pieces, and then 1″x4″ pieces for the two on either side of the center section. But before attaching those, I used my table saw to rip them down to 3.25″ wide so that they just covered the edges of the plywood boxes as well as the ends of the shelf supports.

And finally, I used 1″x2″ lumber to cover the edges of the shelves.

Here’s a look at the progress from the other direction…

I did all of the wood filling as I went, and if you’ve been around for a while, you know that I use wood filler very liberally. I do this for two reasons. First, wood filler shrinks as it dries. So if you try to put it on perfectly smooth, it will shrink into the joints and screw holes/nail holes as it dried, requiring a second coat. I avoid having to do a second coat by kind of mounding it up on the joints and screw holes/nail holes. But also, I use my rotary sander to sand all of this smooth once it’s dry, so my sander makes very quick work of removing all of the excess and making those joints and nail holes/screw holes very smooth.

So I ended my weekend by making sure that all of those joints, nail holes, and screw holes had been filled with wood filler.

I only use wood filler to cover nail holes, screw holes, and joints where two pieces meet on the same plane. In other words, if it can be sanded smooth with a rotary sander, I use wood filler. If two pieces meet at an angle, for example, where the shelves meet the cabinet boxes, those areas get filled with caulk. I didn’t get to that step yet, and these cabinets will require lots of caulking before I can prime and paint.

So you’ll notice that I only used wood filler on the face of the trim where they meet on the same plane. But I did not use wood filler where the two trim pieces meet on top of the shelf and form a 90-degree corner. Those areas will be caulked.

But I did use wood filler where the trim and the plywood shelf meet on top of the shelves because that can be easily sanded with my rotary sander and leave a perfectly smooth transition between the two pieces.

I’ll wait until the other side is trimmed out and the wood filler has had time to dry on that side before I start sanding so that I can do it all at once. So this is where I left things last night. I also didn’t do any wood filling on the washer cabinet because I still need to remove that top trim piece and rip it down just a bit for my washer to fit inside the cabinet.

To remedy my mistake on the top trim pieces where I had mitered the corners instead of cutting them straight, I used my Dremel Multi-Max to cut off the excess from those boards that stuck out past the edge of the cabinet. The cut was pretty rough at first, so then I used my rotary sander with 80-grit sanding discs to sand it smooth. And then I piled on the wood filler to fill in between the pieces. When I attach the crown molding, that will wrap around the sides of the cabinets by the door and by the appliances and will continue around the room.

I repeated that process on the other end where I had mistakenly cut the piece at a 45-degree angle.

Repairing that mistake this way was a whole lot easier than removing the entire long piece that had been nailed in place with 16-gauge 2-inch nails, removing all of those nails, dragging that 140-inch piece back through the house and into the carport to cut off that mitered corner, and then wrestling with that long piece to get it nailed back into place.

So that’s the weekend progress! It’s really starting to take shape now.

The bottom molding (i.e., the baseboards) will wrap around the base of the tall cabinets as well as the base of the washer cabinet to tie those sections together and finish off everything along the floor.

I’ll also be adding baseboards inside the washer and dryer cabinet to finish off the bottom of the walls.

And you’ll notice that I didn’t add trim to this piece in the center section. This is going to be my glass-top earring and ring drawer, so this plywood will be removed. I’m still trying to determine exactly how I want this storage designed.

There are two ways that I can do it. The first and most obvious way is to build a regular drawer that pulls out so that I can access my earrings and rings. The second option would be to build a storage compartment that doesn’t pull out like a drawer, but instead, the earrings and rings are accessed by putting the glass top on hinges that raises up to access those items. I kind of like both ideas, so I haven’t settled on one just yet.

Of course, the benefit of making it a drawer is that I can set things on top of the glass countertop, and with it being a drawer that pulls out, those items on top won’t be disturbed. If I make the glass top on hinges that raises up for accessing the earrings and rings, I won’t be able to set anything on top of that glass area. It will have to remain free and clear of any items that will block access. But I still like the idea. So I’m going to hold off on doing anything with that middle section until I have the details worked out. I’m almost 100% sure that I’ll end up with another shelf in that section once I decide exactly how I want to store my necklaces there.

Anyway, it was kind of a slower weekend with me taking off on Friday, but at least there was some progress! And I’m finally to the fun stuff!

The A2D Daily:

Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.

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An Entry Refresh in Progress + New Front Door Color

This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure Policy here

We have a project in process right now, we’re working on a little refresh of the entry! Unfortunately we had to repaint our entry because the painters used the wrong paint formula on the trim in the renovation. It’s a long story but we are repainting all of the trim ourselves and just trying to get this done so we can get onto the fun parts.

Our plan for the rest of the entry was to either wallpaper the (tiny amount) of walls or hand paint them, wallpaper the ceiling and find a fresh door color. We added the lantern a couple of years ago, removed the carpet and added wood floors and plan to add a runner at some point. (See befores and afters in this post!).

I’ve intended to choose a color for the interior of our front door ever since we did the renovation, but I just wasn’t sure what color I wanted. At some point awhile back we tried a darker blue which we immediately vetoed. That was months ago, so we are so excited to finally make this entry as cute as it can be!

**Door paint color we chose: Del Mar Blue by Benjamin Moore**

I tried one more door color called Duxbury Gray by Benjamin Moore, just on a whim last week, but the tone of green turned out to be just a little too dark and drab in that spot of our entry. Sometimes with color you experiment and it works out, but other times you just don’t know what you aren’t going to love until you try it. It was a gorgeous color in our home, and my husband loved it, but just not the right mood for us especially in that darker corner of the entry.

We did consider other colors for a minute, even corals and yellows (!) which would’ve also been fun, but I really just want the backdrops of our main floor to be pretty shades of creams/whites, blues and greens and then other colors are accents.

We have a blue green color on our living room walls that we love, it’s Beach Glass by Benjamin Moore. In our home it’s a little bit moody and yet so welcoming and beachy. It’s really perfect for that room and our style. I considered just using it again on the door but I really wanted it to feel at least slightly different when you can see them both at the same time, perhaps lighter or darker and a wee bit more green, so the hunt was back on.

**Door paint color we chose: Del Mar Blue by Benjamin Moore** // Lantern

After another long search online I was getting overwhelmed by the options but I saw one that seemed like the right mood– a cheerful greenish blue but also moody 🙂 called Del Mar Blue by Benjamin Moore. It looked fairly close to the color Beach Glass, but after comparing the photos and looking up the LRV (light reflective value) I determined it would be little darker and also it appeared to be more green.

Of course you can never trust online colors to be exactly how they appear. You have to test them in your own light, even Beach Glass looks moodier here in real life than I’ve seen it in some homes and in the online sample. Testing paint is really the only way to know for sure (especially if you’re not really familiar with colors or how to determine which one will be right).

Fingers crossed this one wouldn’t be too green or dark, we picked up a sample this weekend and got the first coat on. Much to our delight, we love it.

Now we just have to do the final coat of paint on the door, and finish painting the trim and then we can get onto the other fun touches.

We’re considering using a grasscloth wallpaper on the walls for more warmth and texture. My husband was willing to hand paint the walls with a pattern which he has done in several of our past homes, but we both love grasscloth so we might reserve his artistic talents for another space. We have so little walls to paper since most of the stair wall is paneled, so we think a textured wallpaper would be cozy.

Star wallpaper (bronze, what I have above) // Star wallpaper (blue version)

I had bought a couple of rolls of a star wallpaper from a designer friend over a year ago that I want to use on the tiny entry ceiling as a fun surprise when you look up. I can’t decide if we should tackle that installation ourselves or hire help, ha. It’s been years since I wallpapered a room (and I never enjoyed it hahahah), and a ceiling seems tricky. But it’s such a small space, maybe it’s worth doing ourselves. We shall see. If I hire someone to do the grasscloth (which I probably would) it would make sense to hire out to do the whole space.

So, that’s what we’re working on! I’ll update you on progress. I’m always awaiting my new couch, so there’s lots happening!

What projects are you working on at your house?

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Random Updates: Closet Progress, A Major Oversight, An Awesome Purchase, And A Potential Purchase

I’ll start with the most exciting thing that happened yesterday. My plywood, trim pieces, and molding were delivered! I’ve never had anything like this delivered from Home Depot or Lowe’s before, so I had no idea what that process would even look like. Lowe’s brings everything on a huge flatbed truck (the size of an 18-wheeler) with a forklift attached to the back, and then the delivery person uses that forklift to place the items where you want them. It was such a quick and painless process.

And y’all, I was so thankful that we have a driveway now! That made it so easy for him to drive right up to the carport with the forklift and place them under the carport.

He had to place the plywood at the edge of the carport because the forklift couldn’t fit under the carport, but it was the perfect placement to leave lots of room for me to work under the carport. I had already checked the forecast, and thankfully, we don’t have rain in the forecast for the next week.

That’s a lot of plywood! 😀 Most of it (21 sheets) is 3/4-inch plywood, and the rest is 1/2-inch and 1/4-inch plywood.

Of course, the plywood that I needed to start with was on the bottom, so I had to move all of the other pieces off to the side before I could even get started.

And all of the 3/4-inch ply needed to be ripped down to the depth of the cabinet boxes because all of the 3/4-inch will be used for cabinet boxes, shelves, and separators (i.e., between drawer sections and to form the dedicated slot for my step ladder). I was having trouble deciding on 16-inch-deep cabinets or 20-inch-deep cabinets, so I decided to split the difference and cut the plywood to 17.25 inches so that when the face trim is attached, the cabinet boxes will be 18 inches deep. I got about halfway through ripping down the 3/4-inch plywood for the cabinet boxes.

Since I don’t have a big table saw with an outfeed table, I had to work on the ground…again. 😀 I placed a 1-inch foam insulation board on the concrete under the carport and cut everything with my circular saw.

I used my Kreg Rip-Cut Circular Saw Guide (affiliate link), which worked perfectly for this project. It’s a great low-cost option for those of us who don’t have table saws with outfeed tables. And it works with almost any circular saw.

I worked as late as I could last night (I don’t like using power tools outside past 8:00pm), and I got about half of the 3/4-inch sheets cut down and stacked. The stack on the right is the one for the closet cabinet boxes. The stack on the left is the waste, but I can assure you that it won’t actually go to waste. I still have an entire workshop that needs to be outfitted to make it usable as a workshop, and that plywood will be great for making shelves, storage cabinets, and other things.

In other news, I realized yesterday that I made a HUGE oversight. I still don’t have a scuttle hole to access the crawl space of our house. The scuttle hole used to be in the closet area of our home gym, but when the new subfloor was installed, I told them not to cut a new scuttle hole in that location because I didn’t want a scuttle hole in our bedroom floor. I also plan to move the attic access out of that room as well.

My plan was to put the new scuttle hole to the crawl space in this corner of the foyer, but of course, it should have been cut before I finished the floor. But now, I have a newly finished floor that I have to cut a hole in. Yikes!

I plan to put an upholstered ottoman in that area, so at least if I mess it up, it won’t show. But I’ve been stressing out about having to do this. In fact, I had trouble sleeping last night because I couldn’t stop thinking about how I was going to cut into this flooring and subfloor.

I finally decided (at about 3:30am) that the best option would be to buy a plunge saw. I’ve been looking at plunge saws for a while now, but the price for the brand that is considered the best has held me back. The Festool brand costs anywhere from $700 to over $1000, depending on the model. And since I haven’t really had a need for one to this point, paying that much money for a tool that I haven’t actually needed wasn’t really a priority for me.

But now that I need one, I still don’t want to pay that much for it! (There’s not a local place that rents plunge saws.) My priority now is to get the closet, bedroom, and foyer finished, and I don’t want to spend that much on a tool right now. So I’ve been looking at other options. There’s a brand called WEN that sells a plunge saw with a track for $169 (affiliate link), and it actually has really good ratings. And then Kreg has one for $299 (affiliate link), but it looks like the track is sold separately. So if any of you have experience with either of those brands of plunge saws, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

In happier news, I got the three-step ladder that I ordered for the closet (affiliate link). Y’all, I’m so impressed with this ladder! I wasn’t sure what to expect from an aluminum ladder that has a wood grain finish. Of course, the images on the product listing were impressive, but you just never know if those images have been edited to look great.

But it’s actually a very pretty, durable finish. It looks great, and it’s very sturdy!

When it’s folded and stored in its dedicated slot in the closet, this is all that will be seen. I may use a bit of Rub ‘N Buff on those bright chrome screws so that they don’t command so much attention. 😀

And finally, the electrician just left, so I have a working dryer outlet now! Woohoo!! That means that I can build that other cabinet for the dryer this weekend, and I can actually have a working washer AND dryer by the end of the weekend! I haven’t had a working dryer since the middle of December, and I’m so excited to get that in place and wash AND dry a load of sheets and blankets! I never thought I’d be so excited to do a load of laundry. 😀

The A2D Daily:

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The Only Christmas Gift Guide You’ll Need This Year – The Anna Edit

The perfect post to send to someone special if you need to drop some hints…

This post contains ad affiliate links (denoted by a ‘*’) & gifted items (denoted by ‘ad – gifted). You can read my full disclaimer here.

Once again I’ve trawled the web for the ultimate festive gift guide that caters for all budgets and should have you covered, whomever the lucky recipient is. So if it’s a Secret Santa that’s got you scratching your head, or a special someone that has you stumped, look no further…

A LITTLE SOMETHING…

It’s universally agreed that this category is the toughest one. So whether you’re doing a Secret Santa, need a few stocking stuffers, or you just want to have something on hand to give to unexpected gifters, here are some recommendations – all under £15. My top pick would be to buy them your favourite book you’ve read this year and then slip this super chic Silk Bookmark* between the pages, or fill this HAY Crate* with something you think they’ll love inside, like all the ingredients for an indulgent hot chocolate, or the bits you need for your go-to cookie recipe. Even when the gift is more on the novelty side I still like it to be useful in some way and I can’t think of anyone I know who wouldn’t get use of out this Watering Globe* – what a good idea! I’m a sucker for an edible gift though and these Hotel Chocolat Dark Chocolate Batons* and Tony’s Christmas Gift Pack* look RIGHT up my street.

A LITTLE SOMETHING*

CLOTHING & CASHMERE…

As always I suggest that when it comes to clothing, unless a piece has been specified, your best bet is to stick to cashmere or just generally comfy items. This year my favourite matching set is this jumper* and these trousers* from ARKET, it’s giving some serious Toteme vibes. Cashmere socks are something that is on my Christmas list every single year and you cannot go wrong with The White Company* ones, they are the true OG’s, although these Falke Wool & Cashmere Blend Socks* are a chic more affordable alternative. Dressing gowns are fab because they last for years and the receiver is always going to get use out of them. Personally I love the Soho House Fleece* ones, but this Tekla Fabrics Stripe Dressing Gown* looks so cosy.

CLOTHING & CASHMERE*

A BEAUTY LOVERS DREAM…

One thing that I buy every single year is this Aromatherapy Associates Set* for my Grandparents. They find a way to make it last a whole year – MY HEART!!! Sets always end up as the best value, but sometimes it’s just nice to gift something that you really like yourself that you feel like they will love. For me that would be the Summer Fridays Lip Butter*, Maison Margelia ‘When The Rain Stops’ Fragrance* or the Westman Atelier Blender Brush* – those are all things that I use every single day. If I had to pick my top, top pick though? It would be this Face Gym Sculpting Tool*. Any beauty lover would probably be on their Gua Sha game already, but this one is unbreakable, stays nice and cool and would be great if they travel.

A BEAUTY LOVERS DREAM*

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FOR THE FOODIES…

What foodie doesn’t love a cookbook?! My favourite one that I’ve purchased and baked from many times this year is ‘Sweet Enough’ by Allison Roman*; especially if you have a baker in your life, they’ll love it. As someone who loves to cook, I would never turn down a set of measuring spoons – ever! – I use them every single morning when I make my smoothie and I think these ones* would look cool in any kitchen. These Onion Goggles* feel like a joke gift, but I can guarantee that I’d end up actually using them! If it’s a slightly pricer gift that you’re after then a foodie would be very into a Pasta Maker*, I’m sure of it. Just make sure you get a homemade pasta dinner date in the diary ASAP!

FOR THE FOODIES*

SOMETHING FOR THE HOME…

Got a homebody in your life!? May I suggest a little book and blanket bundle?! Something like this Lambswool Blanket*, paired with ‘Tom Lake’ by Ann Patchett (I’ve just finished it and WHAT A BRILLIANT BOOK!). I can’t think of a better combo than that. Maybe throw in a face mask, or a pair of pyjamas too and you’re going to be top of the list. A cute vase is always a nice option too – I really like the look of this Sandstone* one. Artwork is a little tricker so you definitely have to know the receiver well, but it feels like such a well considered present – especially when it’s framed already! This* is a great colourful and affordable print, and this Lemons Print* is such a great one for any hallway or kitchen.

SOMETHING FOR THE HOME*

FOR THE ORGANISED ONE…

I mean this is my annual spot to do a book plug, RIGHT!? ‘An Edited Life’* is THE organisation manual for all, and I can guarantee you’ll be bitten by the tidying bug once you’ve flicked through a few pages. Any work-from-homers will appreciate practical gifts like this Weekly Schedule Organiser*, or this Gold Desktop Tidy* or if you want to go all out this Desk Organiser* is on my personal Christmas list. I haven’t seen this Joseph Joseph Cosmetic Case* before and I love that it could store all your daily beauty bits in, but also act as a stand-up mirror too, a nice little two-in-one. This HK Living* one is a little smaller, but would be great to store your jewellery in too.

FOR THE ORGANISED ONE*

FOR THE FITNESS FANATIC…

Lululemon is my go-to for gifts for those in my life who enjoy a good sweat. No one complains with a pair of Align Pants* (plus the returns are really flex around the festive period if they need to switch up the size), and the Lululemon Yoga Mat* is something that I’ve had for years – probably about 7 years at this point! These B Yoga Helix Weights* are the CHICEST weights that I’ve ever seen, and I feel like Bala make really gorgeous workout accessories too like these Resistance Bands* and Balance Blocks* – you definitely wouldn’t mind any of those being out on display in your workout corner. Know someone that lifts!? They are never going to say no to a pair of Lifting Gloves* and these look really fancy.

FOR THE FITNESS FANATIC*

LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY…

Mark’s done a full 44-piece gift edit here if you want to check out, but I asked him for his top, top picks and here’s what he came back with… A set of these Mugs* are top of his wishlist and can see why – they are very aesthetically pleasing! I agree with him that t-shirts are always a solid option and you can sneak in to see the sizing on the ones he already owns, this one from Colourful Standard* is a really nice colour. In terms of accessories he wears his Carhartt Beanie* year on year, and is never without a water bottle like this Yeti one*. A fancy hand cream that you don’t mind strewn across the nightstand is always a winner, and the Aesop Resurrection* one does smell really, really good.

LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY*

FOR THE LITTLES…

If you want ideas for a little human who is more in the 0-12 months category, then check out last year’s post because this year I am fully versed in all things toddlers. Got a 2-3 year old to buy for? I’VE GOT YOUR BACK. We are big train fans in this household and any type of Brio Train Set* feels like a solid choice (and if you know they already have some then a Battery-Operated Train* is a good idea). Role play toys are always a good’un too – Ralph is a big fan of this Doctors Kit*, and anything to do with a kitchen like this Coffee Machine* always makes him feel like he’s doing it for real. Ralph has played with this Henry Hoover* everyday since he got it or if it’s just a little something you’re after parents will thank you for this Reusable Sticker Book* which comes with us every time we attempt a meal out. So, so good and £2.99!!!

FOR THE LITTLES*

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Naoya Inoue to defend undisputed super-bantamweight title against Ramon Cardenas live on Sky Sports | Boxing News

Naoya Inoue defends the undisputed super-bantamweight world championship against Ramon Cardenas live on Sky Sports on May 5.

Pound-for-pound superstar Inoue travels to the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for the Cardenas fight.

Inoue last fought in America in 2021 and has since won a pair of undisputed titles, cementing his status as a generational power-punching force.

Inoue said: “Fighting at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is another career highlight, and I look forward to putting on a great show for everyone.

“Cardenas is a tough opponent who I respect for accepting the fight without hesitation.”

In world title fights alone Inoue is 24-0 with 22 knockouts, a staggering championship run that began with his April 2014 knockout of Adrian Hernandez to win the WBC light-flyweight belt.

He continued his decade-plus reign of dominance with seven defences of the WBO super-flyweight world title before a nine-fight run at bantamweight that concluded with his stoppage of Paul Butler to win the undisputed title.

Inoue toppled future Hall of Famer Nonito Donaire twice at bantamweight, including a second-round stoppage in June 2022.

He then became the undisputed super-bantamweight champion in just two fights, knocking out then-unified champions Stephen Fulton and Marlon Tapales in 2023.

Last May, he packed over 50,000 fans into the Tokyo Dome, rising from a first-round knockdown to stop former two-division king Luis Nery in six. Inoue has since made two more defences of the undisputed crown, knocking out TJ Doheny in seven and late replacement Ye Joon Kim in four.

“Naoya Inoue is among the most powerful and well-rounded fighters I’ve had the privilege of promoting, a singular boxing talent,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.

“After many years selling out arenas and stadiums in his native Japan, ‘The Monster’ is ready to take over Las Vegas on Cinco de Mayo weekend. Ramon Cardenas is a worthy challenger who has earned this opportunity with several impressive victories.”

Cardenas enters his first world title assignment off a 14-fight winning streak, a run of success that began with a September 2017 decision victory over Gabino Hernandez.

He graduated to contender in 2024 with a pair of gut checks, forcing Israel Rodriguez Picazo to retire on his stool with a broken jaw and knocking out Eduardo Ramirez in the ninth round of a competitive fight.

Cardenas returned to his San Antonio hometown last month to headline, overcoming a sixth-round knockdown to earn a unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten Bryan Acosta.

“This means the world to me. I’ve always aspired to fight for a world title, but to get a chance to fight for all the belts is a dream come true,” Cardenas said.

“I always knew our paths would cross. I never had any doubts. When the fight was offered, I instantly accepted. I wouldn’t say it’s a lottery ticket, but you can’t turn it down if you get a chance at the undisputed title. This is the opportunity of a lifetime.”

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GB News presenter Michelle Dewberry cancels her Virgin Active membership after ‘encountering a man in the female changing rooms’

Michelle Dewberry cancelled her Virgin Active membership over the gym’s changing room policy, the GB News presenter has revealed in a series of tweets.

The 45-year-old host of Dewbs & Co said she took the decision after ‘encountering a man in the female changing room’ and was dissatisfied by Virgin Active’s response to her concerns.

Dewberry, who won the second season of The Apprentice, shared a screenshot of the gym’s reply to her email seeking clarification about its policy that read: ‘The changing rooms are split between female and male, with children attending up to the age of eight-years-old of a different gender.

‘For the female changing rooms in particular, this would cover females of all ages, boys up to the age of eight, transgender females, and non-binary members.’

As a result, she told her followers, Dewberry had written back asking for her membership to be cancelled as she asked: ‘Whatever happened to our right to a single-sex changing space?

‘If you are among the minority of woman [sic] who are comfortable sharing your single-sex changing room with adult males, I completely respect that.

‘But what about the majority of us who aren’t?’

Dewberry did not elaborate further on the alleged encounter in the female changing room.

Michelle Dewberry cancelled her Virgin Active membership over the gym’s changing room policy, the GB News presenter has revealed in a series of tweets

The 45-year-old host of Dewbs & Co said she took the decision after ‘encountering a man in the female changing room’ and was dissatisfied by Virgin Active’s response to her concerns.

Guidance issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in 2022 said it is legal for gyms to limit these communal spaces to a single-sex as long as a gender-neutral changing room is also provided for trans people.

MailOnline has contacted Virgin Active for comment.

Britain’s human rights body said that service providers wishing to limit services to a single sex are legally able to do so, provided the reasons are justified and proportionate.

Dewberry’s post divided X as some users agreed it was unfair that ‘the men’s [changing room] is the men’s and the women’s is a free-for-all’.

Others questioned whether Virgin Active provided ‘communal changing rooms, where you strip in front of each other? Or do they have individual cubicles?’

‘I had the same issue a number of years ago and also cancelled my membership,’ one user replied to Dewberry.

It comes after British fitness influencer Natalee Barnett faced fierce criticism for refusing to allow trans women to train at her female-only gym as the equality law now divides the UK’s health clubs and training centres.

Barnett, 25, devised the idea behind The Girl Spot gym, which is due to open soon in Wandsworth, south London, after experiencing sexual harassment at her gym.

Dewberry did not elaborate further on the alleged encounter in the female changing room

‘The staring, mansplaining, being touched, having my space invaded and feeling intimidated – women deserve to be in the gym as much as any other person,’ she told Femail in 2021.

‘I also experienced sexual assault inside the gym when I was 18 years old.’

Fuelled by her negative experiences Barnett began raising funds to start her own gym in 2021, as she promised that the space would be open to trans women.

‘Of course, trans women are welcome at my women-only gym,’ she said in a TikTok in 2021.

Four years later, and with over £22,900 in GoFundMe donations, Barnett backtracked on her initial objective, stating that the gym is no longer trans-inclusive and will only serve as a ‘safe space for biological women’, as her ‘transphobic’ decision sparked outrage online.

Critics also called Barnett out for accepting donations on the basis that her gym would cater to trans women – who were born male but now identify as female – before reversing her decision.

‘To every trans woman who donated or supported this endeavour, I’m sorry you were lied to,’one X user wrote.

Another added: ‘Trans women are women, and your desire to exclude them speaks loudly that you still see them as men. Women should be able to be protected no matter how they show up.

Barnett was branded ‘transphobic’ and criticised for accepting donations to build the space on the basis that it would also be open to trans women, as she promised in 2021

‘If you want to create a safe space for women, create a safe space for all women and recognize the alarmingly high rate of violence that trans women face at the hand of men every single day.’

However, Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at human rights charity Sex Matters, told The Telegraph that Barnett is ‘well within her legal rights’ to implement the single-sex rule.

‘There are thousands of gyms in the country, almost all open to both sexes. It’s very telling that there is so much vitriol aimed at one woman running one small gym, just because she wants a male-free space,’ McAnena said.

Others have branded the plan unfeasible, claiming that Barnett would have to subject women to ‘genital checks’, or as transgender broadcaster India Willoughby told The Telegraph put it, ‘Undie inspections’ for women who ‘look trans’.

Defending herself on social media, Barnett said her decision had not been ‘made lightly’.

‘I spent a great deal of time and money including seeking legal advice and it was absolutely not a choice made lightly or out of exclusion or malice, but rather out of my commitment to ensuring a space where women who have experienced trauma, harassment, or discomfort in co-ed gyms can feel at ease, she wrote.

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Indoor Planters for Spring Plants

In my recent post 5 fresh and pretty spring kitchen ideas, I shared this basket I’m using for spring plants in my kitchen!

I had a few requests for planters like it at different price points so I rounded a few options up below (they weren’t as easy to find as I hoped they would be but maybe more will show up in the next few weeks. I can share more if I find them).

Planters like these are so fun to hold a collection of various spring flowers or plants, but also would be lovely in all seasons!

Some of the ones I’m sharing aren’t “real” planters but you could definitely use any basket to set potted plants in. I do that often, you just remove the plant for watering (in fact that’s what I am doing with the basket on my counter). A couple of the planters are stoneware (I have one of them!), which are also adorable!

If a basket you want to use is more shallow than the plant, I still think it might work if the plants were in attractive pots. You could also use moss to tuck them all in.

The secret to how full my planter looks like is to use plants with thick leaves so you can’t even see the pots. I have four small plants in mine and I set them on saucers just in case they drip a little.

Scroll down to see the options! Enjoy!

Sources for above (top to bottom left to right):

My rattan planter basket // Basket with handles (Ikea) // Basket tray (3 finish options) // Rattan Planter Basket with drain holes (lined) // White hobnail ceramic planter // Hyacinth basket // Rattan basket with 3 sections // Stoneware hobnail planter with 3 sections // Cement wide weave long planter // Long wicker basket with handles

FLODBJÖRK from Ikea below is only $19.99 – It’s durable thanks to the plastic rattan – and handwoven by skilled artisans, so each box is unique!

This one above says it will be available May 18, 2025. Be on the lookout and I’ll try to share on my social media and newsletter if I see it in stock!

If you love my specific planter basket, this round one (above) is from the same brand and style—but smaller and a little bit less in price.

My mom got me this hobnail planter for my birthday and it fits perfectly in this little window by our front door. I just love it! Makes me happy every time I walk through the entry or down the stairs.

Related Posts:

Decorating with Fishing Baskets

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Fabric Samples For The Bedroom Reading Corner Recliner

A couple of weeks ago, I ordered ten fabric samples for the recliner that I want to order for the reading corner in our bedroom, and those samples finally arrived a couple of days ago. And you know what? All ten are beautiful! But there were a couple I could rule out immediately, and then some others that were fairly easy to rule out for various reasons.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. First, let’s go back to the mockup I did of the bedroom so we can all be reminded of the end goal for this room. And once again, I’ll remind you that the wood bed frame in this mockup isn’t what I envision our bed frame looking like. I just needed a quick and easy copy-and-paste bed frame from that specific angle, and that’s the best I could find.

So yesterday, I laid out all of the selections I have so far for the room on my work table in the studio — the rug on the top left, the headboard fabric on the top right, the velvet drapery fabric on the bottom left, and the grasscloth wallpaper on the bottom right.

The other three fabrics are samples of accent fabric I may use for various things like pillows on the bed, although I may not use those exact fabrics. I haven’t made final decisions on accent fabrics yet, and I’d certainly want to add a teal to those colors to bring the teal onto the bed as well.

And here are those selections with the ten fabric samples that I ordered for the recliner. From left to right starting on the top row those are: celadon, platinum, spa, scuba, terracotta, peacock, blanc, mink, bloom, and coral.

I immediately ruled out the darkest and the lightest samples. The peacock is a really dark teal, but I think I have enough teal. The blanc, while beautiful, would disappear against white wainscoting. I’d also be afraid of having something so light in color that would show dirt and stains easily.

So right off, I was able to narrow it down to eight samples.

I went back to the Interior Define website to view all eight of those colors on the Jude recliner that I plan to purchase (affiliate link). Here they are in order as they’re shown above.

Again, I have to remember that the recliner will go against the creamy white wainscoting with the teal grasscloth on the top portion of the wall. So the color I choose will need to contrast nicely with the creamy white and not the teal. With that in mind, I ruled out several more. Spa is too light. Suba is too much teal. Terracotta is too dark for my taste. Mink is too blah. And bloom is too pink.

That left me with three — celadon, platinum, and coral.

You can let me know what you think, but of those three, there seems to be a clear winner to me.

The celadon is actually the color I was rooting for the whole time. I was really hoping the green would complement the other greens nicely, and I think it does.

So I think I have a winner, right?

UPDATE: Since I don’t have a mockup of the reading corner in our bedroom, I decided to copy and paste the recliner in the coral and celadon onto the mockup I have of the headboard wall. Of course, that’s not where the recliner will go, and the scale is completely off. But at least it gives an idea of how each one would look with the selections I’ve already made.

Here’s the celadon…

And here’s the coral…

The chair won’t actually be sitting on the rug, although it may touch the rug just a bit. And now, after seeing these, I’m torn. I like both of them equally, I think. I might actually be leaning slightly towards the coral. Ugh!

The A2D Daily update for today:

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Sanya Richards-Ross Announces Pregnancy with Third Child!

Written by Trish B.

Sanya Richards-Ross, the Olympic gold medalist and former Real Housewives of Atlanta star, has joyfully announced that she and her husband, former NFL player Aaron Ross, are expecting their third child. The couple shared the exciting news on February 22, 2025, coinciding with Sanya’s 41st birthday and their 15th wedding anniversary.

In a heartfelt Instagram post, Sanya showcased her baby bump in a stunning gold ensemble, expressing her surprise and happiness: “40 + 1 😯🧘🏾‍♀️💙💌. I knew this birthday would be special, but this was A LOT more than I could have imagined.” She added, “I’m about to be a Mommi of THREEEEEE AHHHHHHH!!!!”

The news was met with an outpouring of love and congratulations from fans, friends, and fellow RHOA stars, who have followed Sanya’s journey both as an athlete and a reality TV personality.

This pregnancy marks another milestone for the couple, who welcomed their second child, a son, in December 2023. Their path to parenthood has been filled with both joy and challenges, as Sanya has previously opened up about experiencing a miscarriage before the birth of their second child. By sharing her journey, she has offered support and encouragement to other women facing similar difficulties.

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Sanya and Aaron, who have been married since 2010, continue to inspire with their unwavering love and dedication to their growing family. As they prepare to welcome their third child, the Ross family embraces this new chapter with gratitude and excitement.

Congratulations to Sanya, Aaron, and their expanding family!

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Pretty Blue and White Planter Pots on Amazon

In my quest this year to find a place for everything, I wanted to find some bigger planter pots so I can use them for greenery and flowers around the house. I sometimes buy plants and then they just sit around without a pot looking forlorn and forgotten. 🙁

I had some gift cards so I was pleased to find a really pretty set of blue and white planter pots that I hadn’t seen before on Amazon. They seemed seemed promising, so I ordered to take a look!

These three pots come in a set and are quite lovely! They are bigger than this other set I bought a few years ago so they are perfect for what I needed. These pots have drainage holes so I can plant directly into the pot (which I haven’t done yet).

One of the planter pots is surprisingly large, so I think it will be so fun to use it for spring bulbs on my rattan cart in the kitchen. For now I just set a colorful bouquet in it — it reminds me how much I love seeing pretty flowers in the kitchen! Soon spring will come.