Anaheim Angels make Waiver Deadline Trade Splash

It could be said that a Mike Trout team is never desperate. A Mike Trout team; is also never truly out of it. With the Angels less than two games out of the American League Wildcard hunt heading into September; they made a splash today.

The Angels gave up little to acquire Justin Upton and Brandon Phillips. Oddly, they also dealt Cameron Maybin to the Houston Astros. It was an active day for GM Billy Eppler and this really makes for the Angels to have a fun little roster down the stretch.

Despite the missed time and in just 87 games, Mike Trout is having an unbelievable year again. He’s hitting .327 with 27 home runs, 15 steals, a 1.126 OPS and a 6.1 bWAR.

Back in March, we predicted that the Angels would push for the final Al Wildcard spot and Mike Trout would win his third MVP award because of it. We’re getting the feeling that this gutty little team that wins ugly and somehow wins with Mike Trout and 24 bodies is going to hang around until the bitter end with the likes of the Orioles and Twins.

This could be an absolutely epic playoff field if the Angels are facing the Yankees in the Bronx to kick off the postseason and all other teams that would be in if the season ended today remain in the field.

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26 Cool Online Photo Editors And Image Tools To Entertain Ourselves

http://ift.tt/TkSsHQ Imagine editing or enhancing your photos without the having to buy pricey software, installing apps, or even hiring a professional. Forget about high-end desktop image and photo editors....

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Are you Stubborn Enough About Your Creativity?

by Anna Verasai We are all told that compromise is a good virtue to keep everyone happy and maintain balanced relationships. But will you be happy compromising on your talent and creativity? Will you reach your goals if you keep on compromising? If your answer to any of these questions is a no; then stop […]

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Designer Lookbook: Caitlin Murray's Minty Fresh Kitchen Revamp

For HGTV's hit television show "House Hunters," California designer Caitlin Murray of Black Lacquer Design was tapped to renovate the dated kitchen in a quaint 1940s bungalow, located in the Los Angeles valley.

Last renovated in the '80s, the drab kitchen featured yellow walls, faux-wood laminate flooring, and oak cabinetry. The space was also closed off from the neighboring dining room, making entertaining and traffic flow cumbersome.

Murray removed the wall separating the dining room and kitchen, creating an open, flowing space with a peninsula of cabinetry now acting as a barrier between the two spaces.

Previously, a washer and dryer were tucked in the kitchen near the back door. Murray removed the laundry appliances and installed French doors, adding more functionality to the kitchen.

"The French doors added a ton of natural light, too," she says. Next to the French doors, a wall of cabinetry was removed to accommodate a new workstation.

The homeowner wanted a light and fresh kitchen that embraced a soothing color scheme of greens and blues. "She mentioned loving pattern and wallpaper," says Murray. "Wallpaper was a little too much for the kitchen, though."

So, rather than applying pattern to the walls, Murray finished the floor in a graphic black-and-white cement tile by Granada - a nod to the home’s original Spanish-style architecture.

Streamlined Shaker-style cabinets were painted in the subtle Benjamin Moore shade Gray Wisp so they wouldn't compete with the bold flooring. And with a satin finish, the cabinets take on a slight sheen.

"It's almost like a desaturated light mint color," says Murray of the unique shade. "We needed color on the cabinets, and I didn't want it to be too bold, because it needs to work with the other design elements, like the flooring."

The countertops are made of cost-friendly composite, a material created to look like luxe Carrara marble. To accessorize, Murray added champagne-bronze hardware to the cabinetry and drawers, which also ties into the bronze pendant lights from Arteriors.

Wood elements, like floating shelves and stools from Anthropologie, warm up the cool white-and-green space. And the open shelving, used in lieu of cabinetry in some instances, brightens the space.

Get the look at home

• Think outside the box with paint color. "A subtle spin on a neutral can make a big difference," says Murray. For instance, with this project, she painted the kitchen cabinets a light green with hints of gray. "You don’t have to go dramatic if you’re painting your cabinets. Just do some something subtle, and it will make a big difference."
• Be mindful of hardware. Switching cabinet knobs and drawer pulls is a small change that makes a big difference. But pay attention to the existing hardware’s measurements so you don't have to drill new holes for the new hardware.
• Add decorative elements. "How you decorate your kitchen can make all the difference," says Murray. "Keep a mix of decorative and functional items on your countertops. And anything you don’t want to see every day - put it away."

Photos by Eron Rauch.

Related:

• Designer Lookbook: Jessica Helgerson’s Authentic Mid-Century Remodel
• These Stylish Floors Will Make You Rethink Your Renovation Plans
• 2017 Home Design Trends With Staying Power

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Google’s “parking difficulty” and “find parking” + a Real Estate Idea

You may have seen the news from Google Maps that they added “parking difficulty” coverage to 25 more cities (doubling coverage from 25 cities to 50).

That of course got me thinking about the real estate use case for the difficulty of parking near a specific address.

A “Parking Score” to help a renter/buyer assess how much of a pain in the rear parking will be near their new home. Even if they have a reserved spot in the building for themselves, most people entertain guests from time to time — and parking for those people can often be a huge pain in the rear.

WalkScore is the most successful startup that has scored individual properties — other than Zillow of course. Other companies working on “scoring” include Sun Number (prior coverage here), UtilityScore, Enerscore, and HowLoud.

Who is going to take a crack at scoring every home in the country (really, just urban areas) based on the difficulty of parking nearby?

The post Google’s “parking difficulty” and “find parking” + a Real Estate Idea appeared first on GeekEstate Blog.

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Nominations Are Open for The Global PropTech Awards

The Global PropTech Awards are coming up in New York in October.

The first annual Global PropTech Awards
 recognize individuals, technologies and organizations that have gone above and beyond to positively impact next generation PropTech.

Finalists will be announced October 1st and Award Winners will be presented at a ceremony during NYC Real Estate Tech Week 2017.

Know a founder, innovator, association, technology/product, executive, or investor who deserves credit for their amazing work? Please nominate them using the links below…

• NYCRETW Top Founder Award
• NYCRETW Top Executive Award
• NYCRETW Top Technology Award
• NYCRETW Top Innovator Award
• NYCRETW Top Investor Award
• NYCRETW Top Association Award

I’ll be one of the judges for the Global Prop Tech Awards, along with the following individuals:

• Dan Hughes, RICS
• Julia Arlt, PwC
• Ryan Baxter, REBNY
• Arnaud Simeray, Reed MIDEM
• Clelia Warburg Peters, Warburg Realty
• Patrice Derrington, Columbia University
• James Dearsley, PropTech Consult
• Travis Barrington, CRE.Tech
• Linda O’Flanagan, Real Estate Weekly
• Emily Wright, Estates Gazette

Good luck with your nominations!

Note: nominations end September 15th.

The post Nominations Are Open for The Global PropTech Awards appeared first on GeekEstate Blog.

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5 Benefits of Cold Showers

Content originally published and Shared from http://perfectbath.com

Showering is an essential part of a healthy routine, but depending on the temperature, your time spent under the water can offer different benefits for your skin and some bodily functions too. Learn about the surprising health benefits of a taking a cold shower in this article.

Image Source: Flickr

Increase Alertness
Taking a cold shower in the morning, and feeling cold water pour down over our body seems more horrifying than soothing. However, the deep breathing in response to our body’s shock helps us keep warm, as it’s increases our overall oxygen intake. Thus, our heart rate will also increase, releasing a rush of blood through our entire body. This gives us a natural dose of energy for the day. Source: MedicalDaily

Stimulate Weight Loss
Another way cold showers will make you look better, is by promoting fat loss.

Most people don’t know this, but there are two types of fat in your body. Brown fat & white fat. White fat is bad. It’s the body fat that we all hate so much. Brown fat is good. It’s function is to generate heat and keep your body warm.

When you take a cold shower, brown fat is activated, resulting in an increase in energy and calories burned to keep your body warm. So much so that according to this study, cold temperatures can increase brown fat by 15X the normal amount, which can result in 9 pounds of weight loss per year. Source: Menprovement

Refine Hair and Skin
If you’d like to reduce the appearance of acne, cold showers could do the job. Hot water dries out your skin, while cold water tightens your cuticles and pores, preventing them from getting clogged. You can also use cold showers for shinier, more attractive hair that your partner can’t resist playing with. Cold water will close your cuticle, making it less likely dirt can accumulate in your scalp. Source: Lifehack

Build Strong Will Power
The next day was more of the same, but I noticed I had more apprehension this time around before hopping in the shower. This trend continued throughout the following mornings as well. If I knew how great it made me feel, then why didn’t I eagerly throw myself underneath the icy spray? The experience reminded me of a famous old saying, one that has been attributed to a bunch of authors: “I don’t enjoy writing. I enjoy having written.” I don’t like taking cold showers, I just like the way they make me feel after I’ve already dried off.

The week has been a success, and I’ve assured myself that I will keep taking cold showers in the mornings. However, it won’t be easy. I mean, have you taken a hot shower? It’s the best.  Source: Prevention

Strengthen Immunity
According to a study done in 1993 by the Thrombosis Research Institute in England, individuals who took daily cold showers saw an increase in the number of virus fighting white blood cells compared to individuals who took hot showers. Researchers believe that the increased metabolic rate, which results from the body’s attempt to warm itself up, activates the immune system and releases more white blood cells in response. Source: Artofmanliness

 

Contact:
Perfect Bath
Phone: Toll Free 1-866-843-1641
Calgary, Alberta
Email: info@perfectbath.com

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Hypothetical: What If…

…this blog went away.

What if I stopped writing entirely?

Would you pay $5 per month to keep the blog going at its current rate of content (3-5 articles per week)? If not, what would have to change in the way of content to make that worthwhile? More frequent content? More deep analysis of the issues facing our industry? More product reviews?

Please leave a comment or email me directly.

The post Hypothetical: What If… appeared first on GeekEstate Blog.

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10 Best WooCommerce Plugins To Supercharge Your Online Shop

Are you planning on building a new online store? Or looking to add a few extra features to your existing store? Then you might want to check out this...

The post 10 Best WooCommerce Plugins To Supercharge Your Online Shop appeared first on Onextrapixel.

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Top 3 Sewer Line Maintenance Tips to Prevent Drain Repairs

Residential main sewer lines can be one of the most overlooked maintenance tasks, yet it has the potential to cause nasty water damage with expensive cleanup costs. In this short post, we’ll cover 3 top sewer line maintenance tips to prevent drain repair. Read on!

Image Source: Flickr

Clean Clogged Drains Carefully
Cleaning clogged drains isn’t as easy as dumping a chemical drain cleaner down and waiting. Did you know that there are separate waste removal lines that feed into a larger main line carrying waste water away from your house into the sewer system? Residences have a “soil line” which carries kitchen sink and toilet waste to the main line. They are also equipped with a “waste line” which handles showers and bathroom sinks. This means there are two opportunities for clogs before the main line, which itself can be clogged. Part of sewer drain cleaning is discovering what part of your system has the problem.

- Use liquid drain cleaners instead of crystal drain cleaners. Crystal drain cleaners may solidify in your pipes.
- Experts say you should never use a chemical drain cleaner to fix a “total blockage”. You’ll need the aid of a sewer jetter, which blasts away the blockage and restores the pipes to a more pristine condition. After using a sewer jetter, it’s a good idea to test the integrity of your sewer systems using a hydrostatic line tester. If there are existing leaks in the pipe system sealed up by debris, that temporary seal was washed away by the sewer jetter. The hydrostatic line tester will help you identify such leaks so you can repair and prevent further damage.
- Try preventing the problem altogether:
Once a month, pour one cup of baking soda, followed by one cup of white vinegar down the drain. Wait an hour and flush with warm water. The combination fizzles away most of the buildup. This typically works for showers, tubs and kitchen sink drains. Source: Lpud

Keep Trees, Bushes and Other Plants Away From the Sewer Line
When tree roots have made their way into the sewer line, it is difficult to control how fast they grow and the damage they do. The problem starts when roots find a crack or hole in the pipeline; they find a source of water and moisture to keep the tree growing and nourished. Until the crack or hole is repaired, tree roots will be continuous and a recurrent problem.

- Prevention:Removing trees planted anywhere near the sewer line is good idea, but even the roots of far away trees can reach the pipeline. The best way to prevent this issue is to use copper sulfate crystals to create a poisonous zone around the pipe. Roots cannot penetrate the chemicals.

A truly preventative measure is to only plant trees with a shallow root structure. Some of the trees with shallow root structures are:

- Ash trees
- Maple trees
- Willow trees
- Oak trees

Trees with shallow roots have their own drawbacks. Trees with shallow roots are more easily blown over by strong winds, and tend to do more damage to paved area such as sidewalk cement. So following a proper sewer line maintenance tip can have it’s drawbacks as well. Source: BalkanDrainCleaning

Perform a Maintenance Rooter Cleaning Once a Year
An annual rooter cleaning can help keep your sewer line clear of debris and anything else that could cause a serious clog. Depending on how old your pipes are or how many clogs you have had in the past, you may need to perform these rooter cleanings more often, but most homes will be fine with one cleaning a year. Source: SimplySewersDenver

 

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8279 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4W1
(604) 360-2114

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Iggy Azalea and Nick Young Have Unloaded Their 'Fancy' LA Home

Peek Inside a Candy-Colored Mid-Century Modern Throwback

Here, on Pinocchio Drive in Dallas’ Disney Streets neighborhood, dreams of the ’50s really do come true.

A pink Cadillac sometimes sits in the driveway, while a turquoise doorway awaits the dedicated mid-century modern homeowner. Inside is an open floor plan with a central brick fireplace, slick white floor tiles and “Jetsons”-style furnishings.

Pendant lamps in all shapes and sizes hang from the ceiling, while sliding glass doors open from living spaces and bedrooms onto a covered lanai, a sunny deck and a curvy swimming pool.

Vaulted ceilings and exposed beams mingle in a well-mixed nostalgia cocktail with original cabinetry, vintage pink appliances and Formica countertops.

The home launched big as part of the neighborhood’s 1954 Parade of Homes, and it’s now for rent at $3,800 a month through Sergio Manriquez of The Manriquez Team-Dallas Luxury Realty. Hat tip to Curbed for finding this beauty.

Photos by Shoot2Sell.

Related:

• A Mid-Century Modern in Three Parts, Connected by a Pool
• A Wavy Home in Venice
• High-Tech Homes for Sale (With All the Bells and Whistles)

Originally published September 21, 2016

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