Month: January 2015

Processing Your Divorce WIth Help From A Divorce Attorney

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

The ending of your marriage is never easy.  Here are a few tips for men, fathers going through the divorce process to help.

Stop Feeling Sorry For Yourself

It is never easy to go through a traumatic experience and pull yourself out of it but that is the best thing you can do as a man going through a divorce.  Stop feeling sorry for yourself, get over your own personal pity party and start living your new life.  You are not the only one who is going through a divorce and you will survive.  If you are sure your marriage is over, the papers have been served and signed, it is time to resign yourself to the fact your marriage is over.  It is time to move on.  Grieve for a bit but don’t allow yourself to be sucked into thriving off of pity.  Seek professional services for your divorce.  Counseling is not only something available for women in divorce but is also available for men, fathers going through a divorce as well.

Find A Divorce Attorney

Find legal representation as soon as soon as you realize that you are in fact in the midst of a divorce or separation.  A divorce attorney, especially one that specializes in men going through the divorce process will represent your best interest.  What happens frequently in divorce is that the male figure seeks to claim responsibility for a ruined marriage.  Men are fixers and when they are unable to fix their marriage the next best thing for them is to accept responsibility, so they believe.

Get Your Finances In Order

This is far from the truth and can leave many men in financial ruin.  If a divorce is occurring it is because two people failed to be able to create a life together.  No one person is at fault and therefore no one person should take that entire responsibility on themselves.  Don’t end your marriage and believe you are destined to live in financial ruin.  That is not the case.  This is just one of the many reasons men should seek the advice of a professional divorce attorney as soon as they are certain the marriage is coming to an end.

Be There For Your Children

Never stop being a part of your children’s lives and don’t move out of your family home until you have met with a divorce attorney.  Getting a divorce is hard on all parties involved and should be done with a conscience effort to each decision that is made.  Consider your welfare as well as that of your children. Going through a divorce is a step by step process in which a professional divorce attorney for men will advise you in each step along the way.

Longton DM, a subsidiary of Longton Law Offices is a divorce attorney specializing in Men/Dad’s in divorce.  For experienced representation throughout the divorce process in Trenton, Michigan and the surrounding area you can find more information at http://www.michigandivorcelawyerfordad.com.

Longton Law

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Avoiding Conflict During Your Divorce

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

The entire process of divorce is unpredictable. For many, divorce can feel like death. This is especially true for women who tend to process loss in a completely different manner then men. Women are filled with grief and a feeling of guilt. They feel as if they should have seen this coming and should have been able to fix it before it fell apart. As a divorce attorney one of the first things that we set out to do is to help women accept that their marriage is over and that there is nothing that they could have done to change the outcome.

Women must come to terms that they are simply not meant to be together any longer because they no longer bring happiness to one another. We also help them to understand it is possible to be decent to one another while proceeding through the divorce process. Below you will find some tips to help you, as a women/mother going through a divorce.

It is important to tread lightly and take each step of the divorce process as it comes along. Take time to finalize one relationship before getting involved in another. Your focus should be on transitioning your family unit into two pieces. No matter how cordial you are your ex are the process of divorce is challenging and confusing for all vested parties.

Time should be shared equally while reaching a custody agreement. If you choose not to spend time with your children they will resent you. If you take them away from their father and never allow them time to visit they will resent you. It is important to balance time with your children between the two of you. This will be difficult and may take time to understand but trust that it is beneficial for the unit on whole to keep a united front where your children are concerned.

When it comes to communicating, especially when children are involved, talk face to face, and never place your children in the middle. Talking face to face to one another makes it more difficult to slander one another. It is easy to text negativity to your ex but much more difficult to look someone you once loved in the eye and spew negative comments.

Going through a divorce is never easy. It is important that you seek counsel from a local divorce attorney as soon as you realize reconciliation is not going to occur. A divorce attorney will help guide you through the steps of the divorce process and will lead you to healthy support avenues along the way.

Longton DM, a subsidiary of Longton Law Offices is a divorce attorney specializing in Women/Mom’s in divorce throughout Trenton and the surrounding Michigan areas. Find us at http://www.michigandivorcelawyerforwomen.com.

Longton Law

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Common Mistakes To Avoid As A Pool Owner

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Winter is bound to come to an end at some point soon.  When the weather starts to heat up there will be no better place to cool off, relax and take in some sun other than your own swimming pool.  Owning a pool is a lot like owning a boat in that it is a lot of fun but requires regular maintenance to keep the pool running properly.  In order for a pool to function properly you will want to create a maintenance schedule.  Don’t be tempted to skip regular maintenance as this is what will keep your summer free of major pool repairs.

1)      It is crucial to your pools longevity that you allow the pools pump to run frequently.  Not running the pump enough will through off every other element of that helps the pool function properly.  If the pump is not working efficiently your pool cleaner, filter, heater and chlorinator will not be efficient.  Purchase a solid pool pump with at least two speeds.  It is recommended to allow the pump to run twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.

2)      Another element that is important is maintaining the proper water level.  If the water falls below the tile line of the pool the pump will start to draw air.  This will cause your pump to lose its prime.  If this occurs and the water is no longer circulating through the system none of the pools equipment will work properly.  If the prime is lost you also run the risk of overheating the pump.

3)      As a pool owner you must take the time to adjust and account for changes in the chemicals in the pool water.  If the pools pH balance is off you run the risk of damage to the pools plaster.  Troublesome stains can occur on the pool plaster and leave the shell aesthetically unappealing.

4)      Your pool and pool equipment must be kept clean.  Not doing so will create issues and may void the warranty on your equipment.  Often times if there is a build up on your pools equipment and this is the cause of the malfunction it will void the warranty and you will have to cover the repair costs out of pocket.  Keep the pump basket and filters clean.  Also re-insert the equipment properly so that it always functions properly.

5)      No matter what the color of the pool water is it is important to test it.  You can’t determine the condition of the pool by the color of the water.  Hazards to the pool water don’t only happen when the water is green and cloudy.   Check the water even when it is crisp and clear.

Pound Pool Plastering repairs commercial and residential gunite swimming pools including coping, tile and pool plaster repairs. For more information or to request a quote, visit us at http://www.pound-pool-plastering.com/.

Pound Pool Plastering

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Securing Your Home or Business With An Electronic Entry Gate

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

What do you do to keep your home and business secured?  Is a top priority keeping your family safe?  One way that many homeowners and business owners alike are providing extra security is by installing electronic entrance gates.  Here a few pieces of advice and some tips when you are looking to purchase and install a driveway entry gate.

Safety is a top concern and priority, especially when it comes to the security of your home and family.  This has made the need for products such as home alarms, electric gates, driveway gates and CCTV cameras.  There are never ending benefits in adding these measures to your home.  Driveway gates not only bring security and safety to your home but also an aesthetic beauty to the space as well.  An electronic entrance gate also adds to the value of the home or business.  The convenience of a gate is an added benefit above and beyond the fact it will keep what is important to you safe.

In order to find a gate and operator that work well with your home environment you need to consider several factors.  Below you will find several points that will help you to make an educated driveway gate purchase.

1)      One of the main reasons people look to have an electronic entry gate installed is for security.  With this in mind, it is important that the fence is installed correctly.  One mistake during the installation process can affect your safety.  Consider the installation of accessories that will add to the safety of the driveway gate.  Accessories such as photo cells and warning lights will help with the safety of your gate.

2)      The gate operator powers the driveway entry gate.  In order to properly power the gate it is important that the operator supplies enough power.  Most gate operators work off a 230v system or a 24v system.  The 230v system is easy to install and a bit less expensive then the 24v system.  The one benefit of the 24v system is that it uses a transformer other than that it has all the same benefits as the 230v system.

3)      Take into consideration the warranty that is available on both the gate and the operator.  You want to choose to purchase from a supplier that offers a substantial warranty.  The expense to replace or repair a gate operator and electronic entry gate should be covered by the warranty.

4)      Determine what activations system will be the most convenient for you and your family.  Will using a remote control work best or a key pad entry system?  What type of control system is best for your home or businesses security?

Hopefully the above tips will allow you to make an educated choice when it comes to choosing a driveway entry gate and operator.

SAC Fence Michigan offers a variety of electronic entry gates, access control entry systems and fence options for homeowners to choose from.  You will find a variety of fencing options online at http://www.sacfencemi.com/.

SAC Fence

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Planning For Front Yard Landscaping

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Spring is right around the corner and with it comes important landscaping projects.  The front yard landscape is important because it is the most visible aspect of the yard.  It adds to the homes curb appeal and is seen by every person who enters your home through the front door.  Keep that in mind when you are designing your front yard landscape.

Take the Design Of The Home Into Account

When planning the details of the landscaping choose materials that flow with the homes design.  The large structures, such as the walkway, should complement with the home’s exterior.  A smooth transition between your homes landscape and the exterior of the house will create harmony.

Consider your home’s exterior material.  If your home is made of brick, it is essential to carry the hues of the brick into the landscape.  You may even want to include the same bricks into the walkway.  This will help echo the colors of the home onto the ground and then work on bringing it into the landscaping trees, plants and flowers.  Another way to tie the landscape into the home is to match or echo the color of the roofing.  If you make the dominant color of the landscape the same as the roof color you create an appealing visual to the eye.

Pay Special Attention To The Front Yard Walkways

The walkways in the front yard welcome people to your home.  Take care to create a walkway path that flows with the design of your driveway.  People need to be able to walk on the path without brushing into any elements of the landscape.  Create a path that has room for your landscaping to grow without ending up in the walkway.  Lighting is another way to tie the exterior of the home to the landscape.  Choose solar powered lights that match the lighting of the exterior of the home.  Not only will harmony be created between the landscape and home’s exterior, the use of lighting will make your yard safer too.

Add Some Color

Once the layout is set and the materials for the hard aspects of the landscape are in place it is time to think about the trees, shrubs and plants.  Choosing trees and shrubs you need to make sure to take into account the size that they will become as they mature.  Not only will the tree grow up but also down.  The root system needs room to expand.  Once the trees and shrubs are in place add complimentary colors with flowers.  Take time to consider the amount of sun or shade that will be absorbed.  Choose flowers and plants that fit the area.

Maintenance free plants that come back year after year are the perfect addition to the landscaping.  Plan your landscape so that your annuals are set to peak in color at different times throughout the spring, summer and fall.  This will allow you to get the maximum appeal without the extra expensive of perennials.

CBA Outdoor Services is a local landscape design firm offering services, including landscaping and landscape design, throughout Livingston and Wayne Counties.  For more information on the services they offer to both commercial and residential clients look online at http://cbaoutdoors.com/.

CBA Outdoor Services

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Exactly What Is LTL Shipping and Is It Right For My Business

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Shipping cargo is something most businesses will have to do at one time or another.  The sea of options that are available when it comes to shipping makes it difficult to choose one.  How can you ensure that you are choosing the right company for your shipping needs?  Not all shippers will be right for you and your particular shipping situation.  If you are looking to ship a lot of items, or a few large items cheaply but don’t have enough to fill an entire truck your best option is to use an LTL trucking company, otherwise known as less than truckload.

Less than truckload shipping is for cargo that weighs between one hundred and fifty one pounds and twenty thousand pounds.  It is an option for small businesses that don’t have enough shipments to fill an entire truck but are tired of paying the high cost of Parcel Post.  LTL shippers take multiple small loads to create one full truckload.  This allows them to charge less than companies that ship parcels separately.  They fill an entire truck to in order to save money and maximize their profits whereas you are only paying for your share of the truck that is being used.

An example of this is if your shipment only fills a quarter of the truck you pay for that portion of the truck.  Then the rest of the truck is packed with orders from other companies to fill it completely.  Each company only pays for the amount of the truck that their shipments are taking up.

Even though LTL shipping can handle shipment upwards of twenty thousand pounds the ideal shipments will weigh around one hundred to ten thousand pounds.  When shipments weigh over one hundred pounds is when they become too expensive and too heavy to ship Parcel Post.  At around ten thousand pounds the expense of LTL shipping gets close to that of full truck load shipping at twenty thousand pounds.  These are things to consider depending on if you will have more shipments and you can hold off until they are ready to lessen the overall expense of your shipping needs.

Most local shipping companies offer less than truckload shipping options.  In order to find one that meets your needs shop around and research your options.  Find a company that is based around customer service, a solid reputation, availability and lastly price.  If a company is cheap but unreliable and falls short on customer service you are not better off in the long run.

Jefferson Diversified Group, LLC is a Global Logistics expert offering LTL shipping and more. Check out available rates today at http://www.detroitltl.com.

Detroit LTL

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No Time For Home Maintenance – Hire A Handyman

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Winter takes a beating on homeowners in the north and northeast. From rain, to snow to ice we have experienced it all with temperatures that have broke records. Freezing temperatures can wreak havoc on your home. It is crucial that homeowners take the time to prepare their homes for the beating winter can have on them.

Whether your home is in need of general maintenance of major repairs here are some particulars to look into. You want to avoid the expensive repairs, like a new roof, so maintenance is key. If you aren’t up to the challenge as a homeowner, regular maintenance can be taken care of by a local professional handyman.Handyman services can be found locally and for reasonably.

One of the first major challenges in homeownership is to keep your gutters and downspouts clean and clear of debris. This is especially challenging in the north where trees and pines are losing leaves and needles. When your gutters and downspouts are clogged they will not work properly. This is a disaster for homeowners no matter the season. The reason it is so crucial to enter the winter season with clean gutters and downspouts is due to ice damage. If water is allowed to build up and freeze in your gutters damage is going to occur. Damage will not only occur to your gutters and downspouts but most likely your homes shingle roofing as well. A handyman will come out and clear your gutters and downspouts at an affordable rate. If you are looking to install gutter guard to prevent leaf build up, a handyman will surely install this as well for a small fee.

Concrete is another major piece of your home that is usually forgotten when it comes to maintenance. This is a large area of concern and leaving it until a crack is too large to ignore is too late. Concrete patios, driveways and walkways will move and settle. When this occurs any damage needs to be filled in with concrete filler to prevent further growth and damage to the structural integrity. All cracks in the concrete should be filled and sealed appropriately before winter sets in. If this does not occur you may find yourself with cracks that have widened a great deal in the spring.

The roof is a major component of your home. To ensure that the structure of your home maintains its integrity it is important that the roof is inspected and maintained. Twice yearly maintenance and repairs should be done on a roof that shows signs of wear. A leaky or damaged roof can be a disaster to any homeowner. Hire a professional handyman to inspect your homes roof. They are schooled in the signs that your roof needs repairs or that it is headed towards the end of its life expectancy. They also can save you from having to climb up on the roof and meander around.

When it comes to your home maintenance is the key element that will keep you away from repairs that spell disaster to most homeowner’s budgets. Hiring a local handyman once a year is beneficial and can save you thousands of dollars in expensive repairs. Maintenance is always preferred over complete renovations.

The Home Doctor, based in Livingston County including Brighton and Howell Michigan, offers a variety of home renovations to clients ranging from bathroom remodeling to age in place home modifications. Contact http://glenmillerthehomedoctor.com/ today all of your home renovating needs.

Glen Miller The Home Doctor

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Understanding The 5Cs In When Buying Gemstone Jewelry Online

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

The 5Cs, commonly known for selecting the perfect diamond are also the key to choosing gemstones.  In order to find a gemstone piece that is perfect it is important that you learn about the 5Cs: color, cut, clarity, carat weight and cost.  When you understand how each plays into the purchase of a stone you will more likely to choose something exquisite.

Let’s begin with the color of a stone.   A tone that is vibrant and vivid is the most sought after gemstone.  For instance, when we look at the red in rubies a bright blood red ruby will likely be more expensive and sought after than those which are saturated and deeper red in color.  Of course the color of the stone is not the only parameter that plays a role in choosing a stone.  It is however, the first characteristic that is seen therefore tops the list of priorities for selecting a piece.

Next, think about the cut of the stone. The cut of the stone is essential to allow for the reflection of light through the gemstone.  A stone that is able to reflect a lot of light and the brilliance of the stone is able to shine through will be more sought after then cuts that don’t allow for a lot of light to penetrate.  There are a variety of cuts to choose from: round solitaire, marquise, oval, pear, emerald, princess, cushion, square, heart, triangle, and more.

The clarity of the gemstone is crucial as well.  A stone free of blemishes and visible imperfections will be pricier than one with obvious imperfections.   Depending on the size and number of inclusions will significantly increase or decrease the value of a gemstone.  Most inclusions are not visible to the naked eye.  To determine the clarity of a stone it is important to have your stone analyzed by your jeweler.

Carat weight is another measurement in which to judge a gemstone on.  Larger gemstones will go for more than smaller stones.  The price will increase or decrease taking into consideration the other 5Cs as well.  A small stone free of all imperfections will fetch more than a large carat weight stone with multiple imperfections, bad color and an odd shape.

The cost is important to consider as well. Depending on your budget and which of the 5Cs you hold as the most important will help you chose a gemstone that is perfect.  Tell the jeweler your budget and what you see as important and they will find a range of different pieces that fall within it.  You can find pieces that are small and perfect, pieces that are medium sized and a bit more imperfect and then larger stones with flaws.  You will choose based on what is important to you the size of the stone or the perfection of the stone.

DaRoche Jewelers is on online jewelry company with a local feel.  You will find a variety of options in jewelry, including custom diamond solitaire engagement rings, online at http://www.darochejewelers.com/.

DaRoche Jewelers

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Should You Repair Your Computer At Home

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

When it comes to repairing computers is it safe to make computer repairs on your own?  There are many resources available to assist computer novices with computer services.  It is important to understand when you can tackle a computer challenge on yourself or when a computer repair should be left to the experts.   It is like understanding when you should hire a mechanic or when you can fix the clink the engine is making on your own.  Or when your furnace is in need of maintenance, do you call a repair technician or can you handle fixing the filters on your own?  It is all about knowing when computer repairs are within your abilities verse when you are only going to make a bigger issue trying to repair it on your own.

One of the biggest differences between computers and cars or furnaces is that when you buy parts you are guaranteed to get something that works.  With computers there are programs out there that are set in motion to purely sabotage your efforts and cause havoc to your hard drive.  You want to be sure that you are using the proper tool for the job you are hoping to accomplish.  If you are looking for a program to help clean your computer registry it is important to research online which tools work correctly.

One thing that happens with computer registry clean ups is that you run them and they detect settings that you actually use but mistake them as settings that are no longer important.  Registry cleaners are only as accurate as the technician behind them.  Always verify that you no longer need the entry before you choose to delete it.  You want to delete the entries safely.

Another thing that can be attempted in computer repair is virus removal.  This is a trickier application then most to figure out if you are using a program that is useful or one that is in fact actually downloading more viruses and spyware to your computer.  Again you will want to be sure that you research what programs are the best in virus removal.  Once the process has been completed you will want to install antivirus protection.

There are many things that you will be able to do on your own to repair your computer.  When you think that you have reached a point where you feel like you are in over your head it is important that you know to stop and handed it over to the experts.

Computers Plus Service, in Brighton Michigan, provides a wide range of valuable services for residential computer repair as well as a variety of commercial computer services to the entire Livingston County area including Howell, Brighton and the surrounding areas.  You can find out more about the services offered by CPS at http://www.cpsmi.com.

Creative Programs and Systems

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Tips To Help Pay Down Your Mortgage

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Purchasing a home is one of the most expensive investments you can make in your lifetime.  Not only does it take up a huge amount of the money you are currently earning but also a chunk of the money you have in savings.  The larger the down payment the smaller the monthly payment however you never want to leave yourself without a comfortable cushion.   Having a mortgage takes up a large percentage of your monthly take home pay and therefore many homeowners try to pay their mortgage down as fast as possible.  With that in mind we have compiled a list of ways to make it easier to pay your mortgage down quickly.

The first way to pay your mortgage down faster is quite obvious; put more money down on your mortgage each month.  The larger the payment, the faster you will pay down your mortgage and the closer you will be to paying it off.  One way to do this is to make payments bi-weekly instead of monthly.  This will allow you to make 26 smaller, more manageable payments rather than 12 larger payments.  Using this technique will allow you to make one extra payment a year as well.

If you want to you can also increase the amount of your mortgage payment.  If you are able to do this you will then be putting more money directly towards the principal of the mortgage.  Be sure to include the portion of the payment to be applied to the original mortgage payment and what you would like to be applied to the principal.

Another method to pay off your mortgage faster is to put increases in wages towards the payment.  This includes bonuses or incentives as well.  The more money that is applied directly to the principle of your mortgage the sooner you will find yourself paying your mortgage off.

If you come into a lump sum of money and already have stocked away a fund for emergency’s consider making a onetime lump sum payment to the principle of your mortgage.  The more that is paid directly to the principal the less you will pay in interest in the long run.  The less interest paid the more money available to go towards the principle of your mortgage.  It is one of those times that the catch twenty two works in your favor.

When you are looking at options in mortgages look for options that offer a fifteen year fixed mortgage payment over the thirty year.  If the payment at fifteen years is too large to handle try a twenty year mortgage.  The less amount of time you finance your mortgage for the less interest you will pay and the sooner your home will be yours clear and free of a mortgage payment.

Apply these tips to paying off your mortgage and you will see how quickly an extra yearly payment or two stacks up in the long run.

Cross Country Mortgage in Brighton, Michigan provide mortgage services for clients including new home loans, refinancing, reversed mortgages, new purchase home mortgages and home equity loans to the entire Livingston County area including Brighton, Howell and Livingston County. Cross Country Mortgage Brighton, MI at http://brightoncrosscountry.com/.

Brighton Cross Country Mortgage

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