Beach Bungalow Blinds is all about inspiring beautiful spaces in your home with window treatments that are functional, attractive and affordable. Our Free Shop at Home service allows us to see first hand what you want to accomplish with your window treatments and show you samples that you can see in your home with your color scheme. If you’re in the southwest Florida area, we’re happy to come to your home and show you samples, ideas, discuss your options and go over your project from start to finish. You don’t have to worry about measuring window sizes or debate on what works best where. Basically, we bring our showroom to you and guide you through the selection process. We’ll let you know if a cellular shade best fits your living room window or if plantation shutters should be a better choice. We have answers to all of your questions so call (239) 689-4375 to schedule your appointment now!

At Beach Bungalow Blinds we love to inspire our clients in their home decor. We don’t just educate them on what works best in what room on what window but we also guide them into creating the best look that fits their specific decoration needs and budget. Beach Bungalow Blinds has the BEST PRICES in town – GUARANTEED! With our energy-saving window treatments that protect your home and furniture from solar damage while keeping your light bill down, you can easily go green in your home today! This month we’re bringing you some great information on Solar Shades and why you may want to install them in your home! Please feel free to call us at (239) 689-4375 with any additional questions!

CUSTOM WINDOW TREATMENTS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

With over 15 years experience Beach Bungalow Blinds offers the best quality window treatments at the best possible prices. Our philosophy is simple; understand the importance of great service and personal care and offer superb value. We have the best prices in town that can’t be beat! We guarantee it! 

Beach Bungalow Blinds has a showroom by appointment only at 5760 Youngquest Rd in Fort Myers right off route 41. Our company is based on the belief that our customers’ needs are of the utmost importance. Our entire team is committed to meeting and exceeding those needs. This is why a high percentage of our business is from repeat customers and referrals.

THE MARKETING IS CHANGING

Buyers who have been waiting on the sidelines for home or condo purchases in SW Florida should wait no longer. The median price of all single family homes in Cape Coral sold during the month of January 2012 rose 33% since January 2011 from $89,525 to $119,000 in January 2012. Condo values appear to have bottomed out and are showing signs of pressure towards higher prices. The unprecedented value at which homes and condos could be purchased for is slowing but surely slipping away as we lean towards a more normal market.

In addition, due in part to low prices and historically low-interest rates, home affordability conditions have reached their highest level since record keeping began in 1970. Rarely do we see low prices and low rates at the same time. Buyers over the past 2 years have been able to solidify their financial futures in these tough economic times by purchasing a home at 1/2 it’s “true” value, while financing it at severely depressed rates saving them even more money monthly, and over the term of their mortgage.

Unfortunately qualifying for a home loan is more difficult today than it has been at almost anytime in the past, with the exception of when you were required to have a 20% down payment. Today it is so important to keep your credit clean, and to be able to document all income either through W2 and or pay stubs if employed or with copies of your tax return, 2 years please!, if self-employed.

We invite you to like us on facebook, follow us on twitter and connect with us on linkedin. We hope that you find our website to be a great source of information and visit often. Whether you are looking for Homes for Sale, Moving Resources, or even Mortgage Information everything you need is right here.

We will always be available for personal service by phone or email, so feel free to contact us with questions any time! My offices are located on 2326 Del Prado Blvd. S., Cape Coral, FL 33990. You can reach me at  239-425-2503 or email me at Bob.Ashworth@gmail.com and you can visit my website at www.BobAshworth.com.

Sincerely,
Bob Ashworth

“A beautiful lawn doesn’t happen by itself.” I know you’ve heard it before but it’s definitely worth repeating. One of the benefits of living in this paradise we call Southwest Florida is having a beautiful lawn outside your home all year-long! Now what most people don’t realize is what it takes to create and keep a beautiful lawn and it’s not as complicated or difficult as some may say it is.

Lenny’s Pest Control has been helping homeowners enjoy a year-long beautiful lawn for years and we know exactly how to get the job done right the first time. Our lawn care specialist will take the time to inspect your lawn and identify the current problems. We always take time to answer all your questions and educate you about what needs to be done for your lawn. Our lawn care program includes Weed Control, Fertilization and Turf Insect Control. We have a special going on this Spring – our initial lawn care service is only $29.95 and it covers up to 6000 sq. ft. with annual agreement – for new customers only.

THE CHOICE IS YOURS

Life is full of choices and today I was reminded of that. I saw someone I cared about in the middle of an unwanted situation with no one to blame but herself. I thought about that for a minute… what that means for all of us. Some of us are strong and some are weak. Some of us find success and some never know what it is to accomplish a single goal. Some hide in their pain and suffering and some become stronger because of their trials and tribulations. It doesn’t matter if we are younger or older, educated or not, white, black or brown… the truth is that if you take away all of our possessions, take away our names, bank accounts, clothes and strip us of everything and put us in a room with five total strangers from all walks of life, the only difference is our minds. Without the “things” that label us and tell the world who we are,  everyone in the room is in fact all the same. With slight differences we all eat and drink the same and we all pretty much eliminate waste the same. We all dress ourselves primarily the same, one leg in and then the other… one shoe and then the other. And without a doubt, every moment of every day of our lives we all have choices to make.

So many times I come across people who want to blame life, circumstances, their parents and even God for their current situation but sadly the truth is that the only person we can blame for our reality is ourselves! Every day we get to choose to get up and get to working on our goals or make excuses as to why we can’t accomplish them. We choose what to eat, how much to exercise, if we read a book or watch TV and we even choose to be negative or positive. We chose to stay or leave, grow or become stagnant. I know, I know, it’s much easier to blame the world and take on the role of the victim. It’s much easier to focus on every bad thing that has ever happened to us or gotten in our way. It’s much easier to point a finger at everyone around us than to own up to our reality and take responsibility. But life wasn’t meant to be easy was it?

Taking responsibility for our lives actually takes bravery. It takes true courage to say “Yeah, that was me, I ate my way into every extra pound on my body. I chose not to go to the gym but stayed on the couch instead. I ate that yummy fast food meal instead of a salad and I went on an extra shopping spree even though I knew I couldn’t afford it”. Honesty is a difficult friend to have when our reality is ugly. But the quickest way to get into a better life is to be honest with ourselves and just own it. To say “I messed up. I need help. I want to change. I am not happy with myself. I don’t like who I’ve become.” That first step of acknowledging our truth is also the first step to changing it.

In order to have what we have never had we must do what we have never done. In order to move out of our current condition or location we must first decide where it is that we want to go. Denial is not your best friend if you’re trying to find the path to success. It takes honesty, determination, hard work and more honesty if you’re going to change from where you are to where you want to go. Every day you have choices: you can be positive instead of negative. You can be your best friend instead of your worst enemy and you can ask yourself “Will this road help me get closer to my goal?” The choice is yours my friend – choose wisely!

Call Barbara King today to schedule your FREE one hour phone consultation and get started on the path to a better life. She can help you learn to make better choices and also explore the benefits of Life Coaching, Yoga classes or Fashion Consulting. You would be amazed how the three intertwine and provide the perfect elements for creating balance and beauty in your world. Barbara can be reached at 1.888.735.6523 or email her at Barbara@BarbaraKingStyling.com. You can also visit her website at www.BarbaraKingStyling.com.

On this beautiful day of love, friendship and sweetness we send you all the love in the world! We hope your day is sweet and memorable filled with love and all good things! Blessings and love from my family to yours! Happy Valentine’s Day!

Monica Garcia

MGS Designz & More…

(954) 326-5366

(239) 282-2869 New Number

mgsdesignz@gmail.com

http://www.mgsdesignz.com

Are you really ready for the New Year?As 2012 arrives quickly we can close our eyes and almost here it whispers to us “One, Two, Three… ready or not, here I come!” Just like in the days of our childhood hide and seek play, before we even had a chance to figure out what our next move was going to be, the countdown was over and it was time! Now is the perfect moment to stop and reflect on our accomplishments of the last year and consider where we want to go in the coming year. You have the power to make those decisions. It’s up to you to use it !

OK, let’s get started. First, eliminate all distractions, sounds , whatever. Sit quietly and ask yourself this question : “What do I want to accomplish in 2012?” Having a clear definition of your goal is the first step in reaching it. If you don’t know where you are headed than you don’t know what direction to take. Running a business can be frustrating, stressful, and confusing, at times. Having goals that provide direction and motivation help us stay creative and enjoy what we are doing.

You know, they say “Time flies when you’re having fun” and I don’t know about you but I think it flies whether you’re having fun or not! It’s happening whether we are prepared or not and we certainly aren’t getting any younger!

Success isn’t something we stumble upon. It isn’t something that arrives at our doorstep by chance or accident. We don’t wake up one day and find that we’re successful. We reach success after a period of time in which we have defined, planned, programmed, worked, walked, sweat, struggled, analyzed, reworked, and believed we could actually reach it. It’s not easy but it isn’t impossible either. It takes clarity, determination and persistence but it can be yours!

In real life you get to define the direction of your business and you should. Do you want to grow or downsize? Should you move to a new location or work from home? Do you want to make more money? Do you want to take on a partner or hire a new employee? Do you want to add a new service or reduce your product line? All of these questions you need to ask and answer yourself and then define what your plan is for 2012. You can’t expect to walk into 2012 without goals and a game plan on how you will achieve them.

Part of what I do as a Business Coach is to sit down with you, as a client, and walk you through this process. I can help you understand where you are, where you want to be and what it’s going to take to get there. My years of experience give me the opportunity to see what you can’t see and then help you plan how to get there. We can define what you would like, what you absolutely have to have and that middle ground that is a compromise between the two. We can create a realistic, attainable and sound plan for you to start your New Year knowing where you are going and how you’re going to achieve your success.

Sometimes people forget that they have to spend money in order to make money. Sometimes they forget that it’s much better to hire someone who can help them figure it out from a different perspective. It’s easy to be so close to our business that we don’t see opportunities right under our nose. Gaining another opinion and brainstorming with other professionals just makes good sense. I do the same thing for my business. I have learned that it can cost me more money to try to figure things out by myself instead of bringing in another professional to help share ideas and their expertise.

Knapp Consultants has been offering Business Consulting and EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING for over 23 years! You can contact me, Lee Knapp to hear how I can help you grow your business and further develop the skills of your employees. . (239) 481-8557 or visit www.LeeKnapp.com for more details!

Wishing you Prosperity, Joy and much Happiness for this New Year 2012! Blessings and love from my family to yours! 

Welcome to the many wonders of a Solar Shade! 

At Beach Bungalow Blinds we know how important your home is and how valuable everything inside of it is to you and your family. We know that giving you options and educating you on all the window treatments available will definitely help you make a better choice when it comes to dressing your windows! Today we would like to introduce you to Solar Shades!

When we think of Solar Shades we don’t just think about covering up a window so your neighbors can’t see in. Yes privacy is important but Solar Shades offer you so much more than that! We think about adding color and beauty to a room while protecting everything inside from the sun’s harmful rays. We think about saving you money on your electric bill and giving you the opportunity to see the beautiful view outside your living room window! Solar shades are beautiful, versatile, functional and they add value to your home. We would love to take some time to discuss with you the many options of Solar Shades for your home or office and invite you to call us at (239) 689-4375. Here’s more information, please read on!

Typical Use for Solar Window Shades: Any room where a view to outside is desired.Solar shades are designed to control the sunlight and heat penetrating a window.

Solar Shades allow you to maintain your outdoor view while minimizing glare on TVs and home computers (the darker the fabric color, the better the glare control). These shades also protect your furnishings by blocking damaging UV rays, and reduce heat transmittance to keep your home comfortable (the lighter the fabric color, the better the temperature control).

Choose between Solar Shade fabrics ranging from 3% to 14% openness. The fabric’s openness determines the clearness of the outward view and UV blockage. The lower the number, the harder it is to see out of. The tighter the weave, the less view but you get more protection from the heat and cold. The more open the weave is, the better the view.

Solar Shade Features

• Reduce cooling costs
• Reduce fuel
• Reduce greenhouse gasses
• Reduce Radiant Heat Gain
• Reduce workload on cooling units Blocks 99% UV Light
• Prevents Skin Cancer
• Protects the Delicate Skin of Children
• Protects Furniture and Valuables
• Shade Material Endorsed by American Cancer Society & Skin Cancer Foundation

Glare Reduction and Comfort

• Television Screens
• Computers
• Work Areas
• Retail Cash Registers and Displays
• Restaurant Environment

Our Solar Shades are available with:

A Cordless Lift System - a safety solution for homes with children or pets.
Continuous Loop Lift System - making it easy to raise large shades.
Motorization System - makes hard to reach shades and heavy shades easy to operate.  Raise and lower multiple shades with a hand-held or wall mounted switch. Perfect for those with special needs and homes with children or pets.

Imagine your home dressed in new window coverings…. Now let us take care of the rest.We look forward to working with you soon!

Beach Bungalow Blinds
Phone: 239-689-4375
bob@beachbungalowblinds.com

ARE YOU EATING ENOUGH?

by Lora Ulrich

Are you giving your body the right kind of fuel it needs to get you through your day?

You’d be surprised at the amount of people who mean well and want to live a healthy, happy lifestyle but just don’t have the right amount of nutritional knowledge to make healthier choices when it comes to food. We trust the advertisements and packaging on food products and believe that what we are getting is good, when in fact the reality is rather surprising. Most people take a quick look at the NATURAL, LOW FAT, NO TRANSFAT, LIGHT, HEALTHY, etc… on the label and are assuming that this is the better choice. In our fast paced living we have become a society that reaches for the fast and easy way to satisfy our hunger instead of thinking about what it is that our body needs to stay healthy long-term. Just because you’re reading a label doesn’t mean you really know what to
look for to make the healthier choice. More on that in another blog coming soon so stay tuned!

With the right nutrition and lifestyle, you can prevent and address major diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic inflammation which are the root cause of these and other illness and diseases. By eating the right foods, we are providing the kind of environment that allows our cells to flourish and in return provide you with vitality and energy. You want to make sure you eat healthy protein, low glycemic carbs, essential fatty acids & fiber for every snack and or meal evenly spaced throughout the day. Also a good rule of thumb is to drink a minimum of 64 oz of water a day.

The New You Lifestyle provides tailored nutrition, fitness and motivational workshops which empower you to achieve your health and fitness goals. We provide a very personalized service – we listen, to your needs, wants and desires. Your goal becomes our focus and we work together to achieve this in the shortest time frame.

Call to find out what health coaching and The New You Lifestyle can do for your body! (239) 898-4078

Bookkeeping Tips by Bean Counters of Florida

# 1 Keep an audit trail

An audit trail is nothing more than a record of all your invoices and checks in numeric order. The thing to remember is never skip numbers. Record voided check and invoice numbers in numeric order with all other checks and invoices, only denote each one that is “voided.” This assures there will be no gaps in your numerical sequence and leaves a proper audit trail.

# 2 Due Date Reminders

It’s a good idea to follow a payroll tax due date reminder. Whether you have a payroll service preparing your payroll tax returns or you’re preparing them yourself, you should follow a check-off list of all the required payroll tax reports. A good due date reminder would be customized to your business’ specific payroll liabilities and include the follow information:

• Due date
• Type of tax
• Report number
• Government agency
• Time period covered
• Submit money, a report or both

# 3 Remember to Be Consistent

Consistency is essential to successful business bookkeeping. If you use a paper bookkeeping system, always be sure to head your columns the same way each month throughout the year. This small matter of consistency will save you and your accountant time and aggravation.

# 4 Keep Good Records

Many business owners don’t keep good records. Some don’t understand bookkeeping; others understand it, but may be afraid of what the numbers might tell them. Think of it this way–bookkeeping is the glue that keeps your business together. If your records aren’t in good shape, the business could fall apart. A healthy business is monitored through its records on a regular basis so you can find problems and correct them before it’s too late.

# 5 Deposit Ticket Books

How do you handle your bank deposits? One easy way is to record your daily deposit in a deposit ticket book. Generally, these books come with a white (original) copy and yellow (duplicate) copy in books of 50. For a small business, an order of 200 duplicate deposit tickets could last 2 years unless you make deposits every day. As you write each deposit ticket, it is a good idea to remove the white
copy to give to the bank and leave the duplicate (yellow) in the book. That way nothing gets lost.

Why would I have to hire a bookkeeping service? I can just go out and buy QuickBooks and do it myself.

Yes, you can, and then again you can’t. Why do we say this? Clients come to us after they’ve attempted to do their own books with QuickBooks. They usually fall into two categories: those that have made a complete mess of things and those who find they don’t have the time to get to it what with running their businesses, managing their employees, handling sales and marketing, family and so on. Eventually they find themselves so far behind that they know they’ll never catch up.

Hiring a professional bookkeeping service gives you a professional individual who doesn’t need to be trained, doesn’t want health insurance, workers compensation or vacation pay. Bookkeepers do the work of accountants for an affordable price. Can you go to your CPA? Sure you can. But think about this. They charge their normal fee, pay their bookkeeper a wage or a fee and pocket the difference. Wouldn’t you rather have that money in your pocket?

We bring to your business over 35 years of accounting and bookkeeping experience. We’ve worked with a number of different companies and know what you need and what needs to be done to get your books in order and keep them that way. So if you’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed out about your bookkeeping, then give us a call. We will be glad to help. Bean Counters of Florida is a full service bookkeeping company that serves small and start up businesses. What do we mean by full service? Well, everything from reconciling your accounts all the way to paying your bills and doing your payroll. We do it all!!