Four tips to help you find the perfect tradesman

Nobody wants to wind up with a cowboy builder ruining their home with substandard improvements and repairs, but it can be hard to know where to look if you’ve never hired a tradesman before. It can feel like finding the right person for the job is a mission in itself, but it’s worth putting the extra effort in to ensure you’ve got a reliable person who will do the best job possible. Whether you’re a home renovation newbie or a seasoned DIY’er on the lookout for a new plumber or gas fitter, then here are five tips that will help you find the perfect tradesman.

Ask around

Chances are your friends or family have had some work done recently, and they might have either positive or negative experiences to share. Ask people that you know very well and trust, and either take a look at the work in person or request some close-up photographs that will show all the details. Don’t just ask about the work, but about the tradesman themselves. Were they approachable and open to new ideas? Were they easy to communicate with? Was it relatively straightforward to arrange payment? If you’re going off the recommendation of someone else, make sure you’ve got as much information as you can, and if your friend or family member seems reluctant to recommend them for any reason, it might pay to stay away.

Find a reputable source

If you can’t find a trustworthy tradesman after some searching through Google, a website or directory that only promotes reputable tradesmen is just as good. Use a service like Plentific, which helps you find local tradesmen in their extensive database, and can even let you book a service online for added convenience. Plentific has a great policy where they’ll refund work that isn’t up to scratch, and will only include tradesmen who have up-to-date certifications and licenses. Hiring a service through a larger company also gives an added layer of security, where you can chase up the provider if the tradesman is disputing a payment.

Shop around

Don’t get your heart set on the first tradesman that looks like it will fit the bill. Like any other good or service, it pays to look around for several other options first, particularly if it’s a large job like a home renovation. Try and get several quotes from different tradesmen with timescales and costs outlined in detail so you can compare different tradesmen and pick the one that will get your work done efficiently and effectively.

Get everything done in writing

Before starting work, it’s extremely important to ensure that you have a written contract between you and your tradesmen. Outline exactly what work you want to be undertaken, what the deadlines are and what the end cost is expected to be. Remember, if a tradesman provides a written quote, he’s legally bound to uphold it so make sure you have an agreement in writing of what the work will be so you won’t be caught out if plans suddenly change.

Back To School With Five Star- Mead Backpack, Binder, & More

Back to school time is so much fun and there are so many things to do to get ready. Supply shopping, clothes shopping, back to the store for the stuff we missed on the highly detailed list we made (a few times), then sorting out and name tagging all of the goodies. It's a lot of work to get one little guy ready for the up and coming year. Ye have four!! It's awesome!

This year we have been really lucky to work with some great companies to get together a list of brands and products that we love and use every year for our kids. I hope you love it as much as we do and find it helpful in your shopping. The awesome part is these are all available in store and online so you can get them as you go or all at one time.

Our list will have to be in a few separate posts, we have stuff coming in here and there and I don't want you to have to wait! It's too much good stuff!! We have some products that are in the same category but are all different in use and style. We all have different tastes and I hope we can cover them all for you :)

We love the kid's backpacks and it's so much more than just a bag. It's cool, it's their individuality, and it has all of their stuff to get through the day. These backpacks have to be so sturdy to keep up with them. That's why I love working with Mead. Since we have been working with these guys, a backpack lasts all year. There is a huge difference between these backpacks and other brands.

We tested that out last year. We had 3 Mead bags and 4 kids. Cassie wanted a themed one so we ordered that and poof, backpacks were covered. All of the big kids which had way more use with their bags with higher grades and bigger books. A lot more moving around than Cassie's and she still ended up going through 4 backpacks. The zippers would blow, the straps broke, the adjuster for the strap broke, the seams ripped. It was one thing after another with her backpacks while the older three had fully intact, packed to the brim, nearing busting, and not one broken zipper, strap, or tear. That's AWESOME!!

As a parent, I love finding dependable products that I know my kids can't wear out. Because if they can they will. I have seen this happen so many times it's not funny. My kids are great at reviewing/stress testing stuff. They will far pass breaking stuff in and break it down!

So, who is this wonderful company I am talking about? Five Star of course. Mead makes great backpacks. They also offer some other really great products like binders, folders, and so much more.

I love it that this review is for a whole backpack full of stuff and what makes me even happier is one of my awesome readers will get one too!! That's my favorite part of what I do- Giveaways!!!

Backpacks come in all shapes and sizes.

This expandable reinforced backpack is just what the kids need and I'm going to explain just how cool it is. This backpack offers expandable pockets and middle. SO MUCH STORAGE!!

The face of the backpack is a pocket. It folds down for fast and easy access. There is a covered pocket, and pouches for writing instruments. There's an open big pocket too. The whole section expands out 2 more inches to hold everything that needs to go in there.

There is a stretchy mesh pocket on the side perfect for a water bottle. There is another zippered pouch at the top that is deep enough to put my whole hand in.

The center of the backpack is open and offers a wide opening to get all of the stuff in and out easily. It goes to the water bottle holder on one side and all the way to the bottom on the other side. I like that a lot as a parent. I know my kids have torn up so many folders and notebooks because their backpacks weren't opening wide enough at the top. That is not a problem at all with this. The inside also expands to give 3 more inches of space. That makes a huge difference.

Behind that section, there is another zippered section that holds notebooks, folders, and whatever else they may need. This backpack covers all bases! Sometimes they have after school things and with the extra space, they can add in what they need instead of having to carry an extra bag. I have to worry less about the trips to the lost and found.

The back of the backpack is cushioned so books and notebooks won't be digging into their backs. The expandable sections make every day easier. It can adjust day by day for homework and projects.

What's in your backpack?

In no specific order, I'm going to go over everything that came in the backpack/ There are so many awesome goodies in here, I can't just pick the coolest thing and start there, they are all so cool and have very awesome features. Seriously. These are very well thought products. I wish I had stuff like this when I was in school. Paper spilling in the hall nightmares just came flooding back to me. With these products, the kids are going to be so organized!

The Binder is just like a cool briefcase. I really don't know where to start with all of the cool features on this one. It has so many. It's a binder with a storage pocket on the outside and it offers an adjustable strap for super easy toting. The front of the folder has sectioned pouches that are perfect for clipping pens or anything else. The are different depths too. The folder has a flap that folds over with a long velcro piece so it can be open as big or as little as it needs to be. There are 6 sections inside with tabs in each one for easy finding. This is really designed with convenience in mind.

In between the folder and the binder, there is an expandable section to hold even more. On the inside, there is another pocket and a zippered compartment to store all of the non-paper things like pens, pencils, pencil sharpener, earbuds, USB, scissors, highlighters, and anything else. It's see through so there is no digging involved, it's so cool. The 3 rings are the non-breakable sturdy rings.

The Notebook- The Five Star Notebook offers 100 sheets of college ruled paper that resists ink bleed. You know how frustrating it is when you've written a whole page of notes, flip it over and realize you made 3 pages of notes. Not with this paper. It's good thick paper. The built-in pockets make storing pulled out pages a breeze and the pockets are reinforced to prevent tears. The cover is water resistant and protects your notes all year.

The Five Star Flex- Hybrid NoteBinder is everything you need from a notebook and binder all in one. It's a notebook with the paper already in it but, it's a 3-ring binder as well. The rings won't break. It has a 200 sheet capacity and offers 5- pocket dividers, and 80 sheets of paper. The dividers are cool. 3 of them are tall pockets and 2 are the organizing pockets with the reinforced top to keep the papers from sliding. The thick flexible cover protects all of the stuff inside.

Add-A-Folder- The Add-A-Folder pockets are amazing. I have never seen these until now and I'm completely blown away. This is one of the coolest and well-made add-ons that I have ever seen. Each folder has rings that snap into any notebook or binder. The are at the spine and open out so your pages don't fall out. This is so neat. There is a thick plastic strip that pulls out to insert it into a binder. This makes it easy to take out of either one without ripping the tabs. They are interchangeable to any notebook or binder.

Pocket Dividers- The Pocket Dividers have the same awesome features and the Add-A-Folders. The can go into any binder or notebook and easily slide in and out for convenience. These are tabbed at the top so you don't have to flip through to find them.

Storage and Organization Pocket- The Storage and Organization Pocket is something that had to be developed out of a dream and wishful thinking. This offers the tabs that pop into a notebook or a binder like the ones above but it is a single pocket that has a pouch right on it. This turns ANY notebook or binder into the all in one that the kids need. No more lost stuff in the bottom of the backpack or I forgot it in my locker. It's perfect for a calculator, pens, pencils, and the other miscellaneous stuff.

Tabs- Tabs are so important in the higher grades. Keeping track of everything in one place makes life so much easier. The Peel and Stick Tabs offer long strips of write on surface and don't take up a whole lot of room at the top of the page. They have the trusty 3M backing so you already know they will stay in place like they are supposed to. The Snap-In Bookmark Dividers go right in to a binder or notebook and can be written on and erased!

If you are looking for a brand with high-quality products that suit all of the back to school needs, Five Star has you covered. From backpacks, binders, and notebooks to organizers and the accessories, they have you covered.

FiveStar

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I received these products for free to facilitate this review. If you have any questions please feel free to reach us directly at [email protected] or [email protected]

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At-Home Microdermabrasion Tool by NuAcquaDerm Review

How to you feel about your skin? It's the biggest organ on your body and does so many amazing things. I tell my kids it's what keeps us water proof. It really makes them laugh when they get a skinned up knee or elbow. Our skin keeps our body safe from germs and microbes ao we need to keep it whole and clean.

That's fun for kids but as adults, we try to go a little further in our skin care. Keeping it whole is definitely a plus but keeping it looking and feeling great is even better. Let's be honest, our peers and ourselves too, see our skin, not our personality, first. I like to present myself as well as I can on a daily basis.

What are some tricks you use to keeping yourself as radiant as possible? I just got the NuAcquaDerm microdermabrasion device. It's the only patented filter free at-home device for the face and body.

Before I received this kit to review I was unclear of what this really does. So, I did a little research. My conclusion, this thing is awesome and I can't believe I HAVE ONE!! Yay!

Microdermabrasion is the process of abrasion and suction. What this device does is, it super cleans the dermis and sucks away all of the dead skin and debris from it leaving a polished look and feel. The combination of abrasion and suction make this whole kit so unique and convenient. There is no mess to clean up! It goes into the cup.

What comes in the box?

Waterproof, Cordless, and Rechargeable NuAcquaDerm tool
Fine-surface tip for face- #200
Course-Surface tip for face #100
Course-surface tip for body #75
Precision Tip #150
AC 100-240 V adapter UL/Universal
User Manual
2 Year Limited Warranty

Working the tool is so simple too. It's rechargeable and has its own stand to sit on so you don't have to worry about it just laying around. It has two speeds so you can get the perfect suction for you and the area of skin you are using it on.

The head doesn't spin or anything like that. It's not a buffing tool. The diamond cut heads do all the work just by being there. The suction gently pulls the skin and I just move it across my skin. It's such a cool feeling! The heads feel like they are taking off any unwanted build up and I feel super clean after. You know that feeling wen you've used a new loofa and your body feels exfoliated? It's like that but a million times better!

As far as convenience, This is so awesome because it doesn't take up much room on the counter at all and it's really easy to travel with. I brought it with us when we went out of town last weekend and I didn't even bring the charger with me. I charged it before we left and it was fine when I got it out. It's a hand held tool so it doesn't take up much room.

The adapter breaks down and there is a really cute heart shape on a stick that props the device up. That is SO HANDY. I wish my other bathroom tools had that convenient of a stand. I would be so much more organized.

This is a once a week treatment so it doesn't take a lot of time and no chemicals are needed with it. Just the NuAcquaDerm tool. The power button is easy to use too. One click turns it on to regular power, the second click goes to high power, the third click is off.

There are a few warnings and precautions with this device so make sure you read all of the warnings before you get started. This is ao cool and I think you'll love is as much as I do.

If you are looking for the at-home convenience of a microdermabrasion tool, this is the one you need. It's clean, compact, and super easy to use!

NuAcquaDerm

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I received this product for free to facilitate this review. All thoughts and opinions expressed throughout this post are mine alone.

Yookidoo Gymotion® Robo Playland Giveaway!

Thanks for stopping by!! Please feel free to share this giveaway with your family and friends.

Yookidoo Gymotion® Robo Playland Giveaway! ($100 RV) ~ Ends 7/22

Deliciously Savvy Is Hosting a Giveaway in Which 1 Lucky Winner Will Receive a Yookidoo Gymotion® Robo Playland Baby Mat & Play Gym. ARV $100.

Enter Today To Win and Good Luck!

Hosted By:

Deliciously Savvy

Co-Hosted By:

Amy & Aron's Real Life Reviews // Cspierdowis' Product Review Blog // Michigan Saving & More // My Silly Little Gang // Sweet Southern $avings // Capri's Coupons // Heartbeats ~ Soul Stains

Plus a Big Shout Out To All Of The Amazing Blogs Helping To Promote This Amazingly Clean Giveaway!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Details:

1 Lucky Winner Will Receive This Fabulous Yookidoo Gymotion® Robo Playland with 3 Stages Of Play & a Retail Value of $100!

Check Out My Review

1. Lay & Play

2. Tummy & Play

3. Sit & Play

And Now To The Giveaway!

Giveaway Dates: 06/22/2017 9PM EST until 07/22/2017 11:59PM EST

Entrants must be 18 years old to enter and giveaway is open to US residents Only

Any Questions Email Me At mcushing7 (at) hotmail (dot) com.

This giveaway is in no way endorsed, affiliated or associated with Facebook,

Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. This giveaway is valid only

in the United States. Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter.

This giveaway will end at 11:59PM (EST) on 07/22/2017.

Good Luck! Enter Below

Also we all “love it if you like us” on Facebook!

By Supporting Our Blogs Via Social Media You Are Helping Us To Provide Fabulous Prizes For Amazing Future Giveaways! Good Luck & Thank You!

Entry -Form

Deliciously Savvy did not receive any form of compensation for this giveaway. Once winner is selected via the Giveaway Tools process, the winner will be notified. Winner has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. No other blog associated with this giveaway is responsible for the product shipment. Yookidoo will be providing the prize above to the winner and please allow up to 6 to 8 weeks for delivery. Thank You for stopping by! Any Questions or Concerns email me at mcushing7 (at) hotmail (dot) com.

Why Has the World Gone So Crazy Over Fidget Spinners?

In the blink of an eye, it seems as if the world has gone crazy over fidget spinners. They are the cool new toys of this season and it seems that this one trend is here to stay. The internet has also ruled that fidget spinners are useful for dealing with stress, nervousness, anxiety, and other non-neurotypical conditions.

Made from metal or plastic with a center bearing and three rounded prongs which spin around it, fidget spinners and fidget toys are usually intended for mindless play while taking classes or working.

While there is little scientific evidence that playing with a fidget spinner can actually boost concentration, they seem to work great for people with mild attention disorders or as a device to relieve stress or anxiety.

Brief History of Fidget Spinners

Interestingly, the top of the fidget spinners is one of the oldest toys/artifacts of human civilization. Dating back to 5,500 years or more, these tops have been found in ancient Mesopotamian sites as well as in the tomb of King Tut in Egypt.

According to the inventor of fidget spinners, Catherine Hettinger, the idea for this modern device was conceived after she saw Israeli children throw stones at police officers. She invented fidget spinners as a way of letting children deal with their anxiety and to promote peace – a worthy goal as any.

Popularity Today

According to Google, online searches for fidget spinners began climbing this year around April. Their recent popularity can potentially be linked to the myriad of YouTube videos based on cool fidget spinner tips and tricks. These devices are now being marketed as an easy solution for issues such as anxiety, ADHD and autism, based on the premise that spinning the toy can increase focus and reduce stress.

While opponents of this trend argue that there is no scientific study to back the claim that fidget spinners can actually treat mental health disorders, it has to be noted that there has been no research conducted on the use of this device specifically. Furthermore, many other studies have indicated that fidgeting, in general, can help increase neurotransmitters which promote concentration and focus, just like clicking a pen or tapping your foot repeatedly.

Even if your problem is the opposite of lack of attention, these devices can be used to relax between tasks. For example, if you’re feeling overwhelmed and tired, the fidget spinner can be used to clear your mind and thoughts during a much-needed break. Since it’s extremely repetitive and requires no thought, it can be an effective way to ‘reset’ yourself.

What’s even more interesting about this toy is that it is a potential salve for smartphone addiction. It serves to keep your hands busy so you are not constantly tempted to reach for your phone –a habit which has become almost instinctive over the years.

The Siren Call of Fidget Spinners

It’s clear to see that these new toys have a siren call – you see people fidget spinning out on the roads, inside shopping centers, on school playgrounds, they seem to be everywhere. Once you give in and buy your very own spinner, you will become addicted.

Fidget spinners also look infinitely cooler than plain fidgeting with your belongings and can stop you from making a mess at your workstation or in the house. Remember those split ends you peel, the cardboard coasters you shred or the stuffing in your comfy sofas that you pull out through a small hole? Fidget spinners are guaranteed to stop you from fidgeting pointlessly. As proven by science, they can also increase your concentration levels and allow you to focus on the task at hand.

For instance, if you are worried about a looming deadline, but just can’t seem to concentrate on work, then taking a few minutes out to play with a cool fidget spinner can help you to clear your mind.

Like all good trendy devices, there are also a number of tricks you can learn with fidget spinners. A simple search on the internet is bound to yield numerous fidget spinner hacks and tricks which you can learn to impress your colleagues, friends, and family. Fidget spinner hacks can also become your new party trick and can be a great conversation starter.

The benefits of these devices are numerous. From being useful for children and adults with mild disorders such as ADHD or anxiety, these cool new toys can also help sharpen your focus and increase your concentration. With these, you also know you are in good company – your ancestors and their ancestors before them probably played with similar devices.

Have an irritating boss? A class you aren’t fond of? Stressed out at home? No problem, fidget spinners can be a very handy tool for stopping the build-up of stress and anxiety. They can upon occasion also be used to calm yourself down in stressful situations.

Fathers Day Gift Ideas from Gold Toe, KOVOT and RORAIMA

We all have so many great ideas of what to get dad for Fathers day but what does he really want? I have put together a list of some really cool stuff that is all kid-approved gifts for dads. They have been working hard coming up with great ideas and I have been working hard to pull it together for this list.

So you know Aron has had some serious issues with his feet and taking complete comfort into consideration, the only socks that he wears are Gold Toe (this is not a not a Promo statement LOL- he wears the white tall socks EVERYDAY). They are the only ones that fit like he likes.

Gold Toe offers socks to cover all of the activities in dad's day. Cool looking business casual, work socks, tall socks, short socks, colorful, and even solids. We love Gold Toe for their dependability, support, and flat out comfort. The hug in the right places, don't slouch and stay in place, that's a huge plus.

We just got an awesome package from them with three different styles that any dad is sure to love.

We love working with Gold Toe. They have different sizes for men, women, and children. Unbeatable comfort and available at so many local sellers including Target, Kohls, Belk, Macy's and more!

Gold Toe

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For the celebrating kind of dad, what about the awesome beer mug!! We love the mugs that are personalized or special occassions. This is definately one of those. KOVOT has some of the coolest gift ideas.

We have worked with them on special gifts before including the perfect gamer bowl for my daughter and a few more.

This Beer Mug with bottle opener is the perfect gift! It say Dad all over it literally!!

This is so cool because there are so many things that we want to say to dad that just doesn't come up in randam conversation. It's like the understood stuff. You're supportive, happy, kind, strong, generous and my favorite, Hero. All of that is on there.

KOVOT

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So what about relaxing? Dad's need to relax right? Fishing and chilling out is a great idea. The kids recently got to go on their first fishing expedition with their Grampy. This idea is for him.

Light Weight Backpacking Reclining/Lounging Camping Folding Chair by RORAIMA. This is so awesome. It's everything that the outdoorsman needs it has so many awesome features.

It folds up easy and has its own carrying case which is super cool. This chair reclines and has a head rest. There are 2 cup holders. and a pouch that is perfect for the stuff he doesn't want to drop in the dirt or river. Wallet, phone, and anything else.

The setup size is very impressive. L59" X W22" X H29.92", the weight limit for the chair is 200 lbs. This is just a super cool gift idea that any guy will like outside!

We received these products for free or a reduced price to facilitate this review. If you have any questions please feel free to email us directly at [email protected] or [email protected]

We love hearing from you!!

Happy Father's Day from Amy & Aron and the kiddo's :)

The Little Kernel Popcorn Review~ What's in your lunchbox?

We love packing lunchboxes. There are so many awesome options to make a lunch amazing. There are sweet, salty, sandwiches and soups. You name it, there is no wrong way to pack a lunch. Well, I may need to correct that, there needs to be a sandwich or some type of protein but any combination will do.

We have gotten to work with some really amazing companies and are putting together a great list of lunch box worthy snacks that will make your kids taste bro's happy :)

The first thing we've got in so far is The Little Kernel popcorn. This is an awesome treat and it's totally lunchbox worthy. They offer 6 great flavors and they are pretty healthy of a snack. Some people like to be really healthy when they snack and other people find it to be a great coincidence that their tasty snack is healthy. No matter how you snack,

⦁ Truffle Sea Salt
⦁ Sweet & Salty
⦁ Pink Himalayan Salt
⦁ White Cheddar
⦁ Butter
⦁ Naked (No Salt Added)

What I love about Little Kernel are the size and flavor. These are smaller kernels and they are easy to manage.

The flavor is very unique, I have always really liked buttery popcorn and add all kinds of different stuff to it to make the perfect snack. The Little Kernel, on the other hand, uses less and it tastes great. They use olive oil instead of butter. The olive oil adds a totally different texture than butter does to a popcorn. It's not soggy, it's still crunchy little popcorn!

If you are looking for a great snack check out The Little Kernel popcorn. You can see them on social media too!

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I received this product to facilitate this review. If you have any questions please feel free to email us directly at [email protected] or [email protected] We love hearing from you!!

Neat Parents Reversible Seat Protector

Full Coverage Seat Protection with one easy to use, piece.

We love traveling and spend a lot of time in the car. That being said, we get dirty messy seats and are slim organization on trips. We recently had the opportunity to work wit Neat Parents on a review of their Reversible Car Seat Protector and we love it.

We have reviewed a lot of seat protectors/covers and storage options but never a combo like this or with the features like this. I like all of it so hopefully, I touch all bases.

Reversible Option

The reversible option is amazing. It has all the options on both sides. So using the light side or the dark side, you don't lose any features. With it having both light and dark, it goes with both of our vehicles.

Full Coverage

The whole seat is covered from the head rest down to the bottom of the seat. The cover is wide enough to fit aa car seat or booster right in it. It offers straps to stay in place to avoid slipping. The seat (on both sides) has sides to keep the extras from falling into the floor.

Storage

At the bottom of the seat, there is a fold down flap that has two pouches. They are mesh and stretchy so it fits all kinds of stuff and it's right there in reach. Things like a phone, portable charger, headphones, drink, snacks, tablet, coloring supplies, etc.

Adjustable Straps

The straps that hold it in place are adjustable so it transitions easily from vehicle to vehicle. We have different head rests and it fits comfortable in both of them.

Easy Clean-Up

This wipes clean so easy. Our dogs got on it and I just dusted their dirty little paw prints right off.

This is awesome to have in the vehicle everywhere we go.

If you need extra coverage that your little ones or even elderly require this would be a perfect option.

I received this product to facilitate this review. If you have any questions please feel free to email us directly at [email protected] or [email protected] We love hearing from you.