It only sat in the front flower bed for two days. Really. I promise. There is a good reason that this isn’t our house any more … toilet replacement post to come soon.
What is the worst thing you have left out in your yard … for a day … or two or even three? Leave me a comment and let me know.
Spring Cleaning has started at our house! Brian has started to tackle the clutter that appeared at our house while he was sick and I was buried in homework. One of the many areas that Brian tackled was the desk. I was on full homework mode and Brian had piled all of the papers on the bed. I was amazed at the amount of papers. Some mail, some tax items that didn’t get filed yet, some kid drawings … who knew what else.
How did all of this fit on the desk? Oh it didn’t. In late March, I took the piles off the desk and put them under the desk. So all of that wasn’t really on the desk. Now the desk is clean … SEE!
It is nice to see the actual desk for once! A few last papers to file but the planners are there … as is the remote of course! lol Oh and that Which-Which cup that had a milkshake in it (that I didn’t even have to share) was really enjoyed!
Now what to Spring Clean next? The bookcase next to the desk? The master bedroom closet? The garage? oh the garage … I don’t even want to go there. Maybe the bookcase will be the next mission. I can handle that with the kids running around and needing a new drink every thirty minutes. Then again that will have to wait. I am counting down homework assignments until I am done … four to go then I can fully tackle the house!! This Spring I really can’t wait to take on Spring Cleaning.
How about you? Do you tackle Spring Cleaning at your house? Leave me a comment and let us know that we aren’t alone!
The kids have left felt tip marks on the dining room table. Meanwhile, the cats have mistaken your sofa for a scratching post. Maybe it’s time for a bit of furniture shopping and, thanks to the early 2013 sales, now could be the perfect time to do it.
The prospect of buying large pieces of furniture can appear daunting no matter how much of a bargain’s on offer. Here are some tips to help you choose the right piece of furniture for your home:
Know what you’re looking for
Ever been out looking for a bedside table in the sales only to come home with a mirror and a pot plant? Make sure you know what you want before you go so you don’t get sidetracked from your mission. To save agonising for hours over the Nordic-style oak sideboard or a sleek black lacquered version, get a sense of the style of piece you’re looking for too.
Measure up
Know the importance of being careful with your measurements. Yes, that large sofa may fit in theory, but if it completely dominates the space, you could end up hating it no matter how much of a bargain it was. One way to get a feel of how it fits before you buy is to cut out pieces of paper from measurements to make a template of the item in question. This will help you get an idea of how much space it takes up and you may be able to try out a few seating arrangements without the heavy lifting.
Choose furniture that works twice as hard
Consider items with extra, hidden storage inside such as coffee tables with shelves or beds with drawers underneath. If your bargain hunting turns up any modular pieces, nab them quickly! These can be moved around to suit your changing lifestyle, giving you furniture that can last for years to come.
Are you sitting comfortably?
Yes, it may well be cheaper to buy large pieces online but, with such a big investment, it’s worthwhile to take it for a test drive. This will allow you to assess the colour and quality. If it’s a sofa, take another person with you to see what it’s like with two people sitting on it.
Flat pack or ready-made…
…that depends on your capabilities with the electric screwdriver. Flat pack furniture may take an afternoon to put together, but it can be much cheaper. Plus, you’re usually able to take it away straight from the shop. But if you know that putting up wardrobes with your nearest and dearest is the fastest way to start a huge row, ready-assembled could be for the best.
Essential checks
Whether you’ve saved up or taken out a loan to cover the initial outlay, buying large pieces of furniture – even if they’re on sale – is still a major expense. The process requires some careful consideration, and it pays to double-check the quality of the service you’re receiving. While you’re in the shop, ask about details such as guarantees and delivery times; with many people buying sofas in early 2013 you may be waiting longer than you’d planned.
If you’re buying anything wooden like a chest of drawers, make sure you open up one of the drawers to check how they’re hanging and to look at the quality of the wood inside- a real giveaway. With sofas, ask whether they’re made of hardwood or soft (hardwood is better) and actually pick up a sofa cushion as normally the heavier they are, the better the quality.
This guest post was written on behalf of Money Matters, the Sainsbury’s Bank blog. The views expressed in this post are those of the author and not of Sainsbury’s Bank. Though it may include tips and information, it does not constitute advice and should not be used as a basis for any financial decisions. Sainsbury’s Bank accepts no responsibility for the opinions and views of external contributors and the content of external websites included within this post. All information in this post was correct at date of publication.
These days, people don’t have a whole lot of extra money to go on big trips to exciting locales. With the way the economy has been performing, most people need to save up for a few years in
between larger trips. This doesn’t mean that they aren’t chomping at the bit to shake things up, though.
One way that people are starting to accomplish this is by furnishing their homes in a way that makes everything feel new and exciting. While this is not necessarily “better” than going on an
actual trip, it can make the time in between your trips much more exciting.
The best way to get started with something like this is to decide what type of mood and feel you’re going for. Some vacation spots are almost impossible to recreate at your own home, so it’s
smart to start small if you can.
It’s also smart to pick an ambiance that is geared more toward vacations where the place you’re staying is truly unique. For example, recreating a trip to Miami Beach may not work out so well
because most hotel rooms look more or less the same. However, recreating a trip to a cabin in the Rocky Mountains could lead to some great results. After all, Rocky Mountain cabin décor can be
easily reproduced and can have a great impact.
Sure, you may be “recreating” a vacation spot because you don’t have the money to actually go to there right now. This doesn’t mean that you have to settle for sub-par furnishings or decor
while you’re doing it. The decor is really what’s going to sell this whole experience for you, so it doesn’t make sense to be stingy on the decor. After all, you don’t want to spend money on all of
this stuff if it’s not even going to give you the look and feel you want it to.
In the end, the whole point of recreating these trips is to have a good time and take a step outside of the ordinary. Not only can this be fun, but it can also be a great way to relax and unwind. Life
can get a little monotonous at times. When you can’t make it out to the rocky mountains, think about how you can bring the Rocky Mountains to you.
Asthma and/or allergy sufferers can be confident that the filters have been tested to the most stringent standards known. For those who do not
suffer from asthma or allergies, they can enjoy the benefits of cleaner indoor air.Sometimes filters (especially in moist environments) become food sources for mold, mildew etc. While poly medias (built with non-woven fibers) are not prone to allow for biological growth, the anti-microbial added gives you an additional protection against biologic growth on the filter.
Chemical antimicrobials are made with pesticides. Our natural antimicrobial treatment is human safe and will continue to be effective even after the filter is taken out of service.
The frame reduces air/dust bypass and will not buckle as it loads. Scents usually cause asthma and allergy sufferers problems which can trigger reactions/symptoms. Some consumers do not want their homes to smell like Lysol sprays.
I have suffered from allergies since I was a child. It is just part of life for me. Part of life for me is also the pets that I am allergic to yet we still own. Yes, I know we could not have them but the few years I didn’t have a pet in my life, it seemed like something was really missing! Anyway, part of dealing with allergies is knowing what products help control the allergens you encounter. My biggest allergy isn’t even the pets. The biggest allergy I deal with every day is dust. Do you know how much dust in the air? It is amazing to see the sun shine into the house and see the little partials floating around the air.
Two years ago we bought a new furnace and heat pump for our house. The old one was on the last leg it had … well it probably didn’t even have a full leg left at that point! Anyway, we made sure to get a good filter and not a cheap $5 filter. We didn’t realize that the new furnace had a lesson common filter size when we agreed to that model. We were limited into what would fit in the closet the furnace is in though so that wasn’t what we were thinking about. Since then we have been buying filters off Amazon as the HVAC company told us it was cheaper for us to by them online than in a store.
We were thrilled to learn then that the new Lysol Air Filters come in the size we need! The price of the Lysol Air Filters is a great price for an asthma & allergy friendly filter too. I have found that if an air filter meets the allergy and asthma standards that is double the cost of a good filter. Sometimes on a budget double the cost can be hard to swallow. We are really excited to learn all of those details I shared above about this new product by Lysol, a name we already trust! I can’t wait until the size we use is available to order online so I can be ready to replace the one we were sent as part of this review in three months!
You can buy these filters at BuyFilters.com or 250 Menards stores in 10 Midwest states! They are on sale right now at BuyFilters.com for less than the suggested retail price of $15.99!
Do you buy asthma & allergy friendly filters or cheap filters? Leave us a comment and let us know why you pick one over the other!
We are only slightly embarrassed to participate in Trisha at MomDot‘s blog carnival this week. (We missed the last one but may have to catch up some day!)
So what is our fridge/pantry? Well we have the fridge in the kitchen and three cabinets Brian took over because he doesn’t like our pantry. He cooks so I deal with it even though I dislike the set-up. Plus we have a deep freezer, an extra fridge (thanks Craigslist!), a closed pantry, and open shelves in the garage. whew. Here we go …
I will note that tomorrow is trash day so the fridge is cleaned out plus tomorrow is shopping day so it will fill up some.
Our garage …
My confession … I worked hard at all of those cookie booths selling cookies with the girls freezing my butt off. It is only right that some of cookies are freezing themselves right now for my later enjoyment!
(That note isn’t really there but I will seriously hunt you down if you take those cookies!)
What are you hiding in your fridge or pantry? Feel free to head over to MomDot and share a post or just leave a comment here!
We escaped for a few days on a family trip (posts to come on that). It was a nice little trip but this isn’t the Home Sweet Home welcoming I expected!
We were almost home … like 12 minutes from home (which is close to us in the middle of no where!) There is a bad accident on the other side of the divided highway. Brian decided we had to stop so he U-Turns and we get stuck in the back-up. Van in park … Brian runs down the road with first aid kit in hand that I dug out of the backseat as he U-turned. I run around the van and wait in the driver’s seat. And wait and wait. The next time I see Brian he has blood on him and he asking for a gallon of water. I grab that from the back seat (we took two on our trip and didn’t use them) and he runs off again but tells me to park up next to the accident. More ambulances … a tow truck … more waiting. Did I mention the kids are in the back of the van waiting and all awake by now? Brian finally came back and we made the 12 more minute trip home where he went right to the shower to clean up. (Brian will share that full story in a future post about why you MUST have a first aid kit in your car … ALL of them!!!)
Once at home, I boxed up some small children’s clothes that didn’t sell at our yard sale to take to my mom’s yard sale later this month while Brian was at the chiropractor. Brian left to go claim our dog from my parents and drop those boxed off clothes off (1 hour and 15 minutes each way.) The kids decided to not clean up their toys nicely (gasp! I know we aren’t perfect!) Shower and bath time for the kids … Matthew gets sick in the tub. SERIOUSLY?!
I am so happy to be home but I am ready to leave again … well maybe not. I will just go crash in bed … my bed.
Tomorrow will be better even if Brian’s to-do list now includes restocking the first aid kit so it can back in the van. (Please pray for that man he helped today!)
A brand new way to show you remember…even when the address is a distant memory.
Gift Accept is the safe, secure way to send gifts without having to keep track of contact information. No address? No problem. We make it simple to send the perfect gift to all those special people in your life, and we can even help you remember birthdays and special occasions.
Here’s how it works: You want to send a gift to a friend, but you aren’t sure of the address. Maybe they’ve moved; maybe you contacts list is a mess. Or maybe this person is someone you’ve just connected with and you don’t want to ruin the surprise. Even if all you have is an email address or Facebook name, Gift Accept delivers. Just select your gift from hundreds of quality items such as flowers, chocolates, jewelry and gourmet gifts. Then we’ll send a message to your friend to let them know you have sent them a gift, and they can confirm their delivery address with Gift Accept. Of course, your information as well as your recipient’s always remains confidential. You can even sync your Facebook contacts and Gift Accept will help you remember special dates, as well as favorite colors, sizes and more. Try it today! Gift Accept is the simple, secure and unique solution for modern gift giving.
Skyline Bookends Set of 2 Product Details …
Iconic buildings plucked from New York’s world-famous skyline create the design for these sturdy bookends for shelves, desks, or kitchen counter tops. Made from formaldehyde-free and carbon compliant MDF and finished in durable epoxy, these classic icons will stand the test of time in classic fashion.
I was excited to see options at Gift Accept that went beyond flowers and candy! When I saw these bookends, I new that would be a great gift to send to Brian as he is always commenting on how we need more bookends. These are unique and fun and sturdy! The ordering process at Gift Accept is really easy in that you can pick your Facebook friends and have them enter their address. This is great for all of the friends I have on Facebook from past years but I no longer have their address in their my address book.
So if you are looking for a unique gift giving idea consider checking out Gift Accept and sending a great gift to a friend, a graduate, or even someone for Father’s Day!
What are your favorite gifts to give? Where do you order them from? Leave us a comment and let us know!
If you own a home and are looking for a way to pay for an education, costly home improvements, ongoing medical expenses, debt consolidation or an array of other larger expenses, we may have the right financing solution for you. Taking out a personal loan or using a credit card doesn’t have to be your only option. Did you know that using your home’s equity is often one of the most cost effective ways to pay for some of these bigger expenses? But, before you decide to apply for a home equity loan or home
equity line of credit, it’s important to understand how to figure out how much equity you have, how much you can use and what your options are. Let’s take a moment to look at your home equity options and see which one may be the right solution for you.
Understanding home equity
Calculating your home equity is actually pretty easy. Simply start with the market value of your home as determined by either the sale price or a current appraisal. Then subtract the balance of your mortgage from that price. The amount you get is the equity you have in your home. Also, keep in mind that in most cases you will only be able to borrow 80 percent of that amount.
So, for example, if your home has recently been appraised for $200,000 and you have $140,000 left to pay on your mortgage, you would have $60,000 in equity built in your home. However, because most lenders will only allow you to borrow 80 percent of the appraised value, if you applied for a home equity loan or line of credit under this scenario, you would probably be able to borrow around $20,000.
Your home equity options
Now, say you decide you could really use that $20,000 in equity for your child’s college education or to put a room addition on your house. There are two ways to take advantage of the equity you’ve built in your home. While they are similar, there are a few distinct differences. Here’s what you need to know:
1. Home equity loan – A home equity loan gives you just that – a lump sum loan with a fixed interest rate. That means you’ll receive the total amount of your loan all at once and be expected to pay back the entire amount (with interest) according to your loan terms. This is a great option if you know the specific amount of money you need up front, like with debt consolidation or to pay off a large medical bill.
2. Home equity line of credit – While a home equity loan comes to you all at once, a home equity line of credit gives you an open line of credit at a variable interest rate so you can use your home’s equity as you need it. This is a smart option if you are unsure of the exact amount you may need upfront or you have ongoing expenses to consider. For example, a large home improvement project may necessitate ongoing expenses and bills and additional (and often unexpected) costs may arise. This way, you have the peace of mind in knowing that the money is there when you need it, but don’t have to repay any amount that you don’t use.
Whether you decide that a home equity loan or line of credit is right for you, make sure you get the interest rate and terms you want to help you meet your financial needs. Find a lender you trust and start the process today to utilize the equity you’ve worked hard to build in your home.
When we moved into this house, we knew we were going to need new appliances but we didn’t understand how home appliance replacement really worked. Our previous house was a new build townhouse that came with all new appliances and we were only there two years. Then we moved here where the house was 15 years old and we had no idea how old any appliance were because there was no documentation left for us.
So here we were with these appliances that worked … for now. We didn’t have money to replace appliances so we used the ones here. Then we learned one day how appliances nominate themselves to be replaced. First up was the washer. It stopped draining one day. ugh. I honestly gave in and took a car of laundry my mom’s house like I did college to get clean clothes while we waited for our washer and dryer (I begged for a new dryer too!) to be delivered. We were still naive though and figured our appliances were fine until November came and the dishwasher died. We were hosting Thanksgiving dinner, I was 8 months pregnant, and I had no dishwasher. Let’s just say that the “next day delivery” promise didn’t happen and the store heard the wrath of a very pregnant woman the Monday before Thanksgiving. (I did get my dishwasher before Thanksgiving if you are wondering!)
We learned … finally. Appliances nominate themselves to be replaced. Our HVAC system was kind and gave us hints it was dying. They were expensive hints but we caught on and replaced it before it completely died. We decided to outsmart the fridge and replace the fridge before it could die when I saw Brian’s dream fridge on sale. But seeing how we are still paying off that fridge, we have stopped there. Next on our list is the hot water heater. The issue is that we have a gas hot water heater. So I have been trying to compare gas and electricity prices to decide if we want to keep a gas hot water heater. On top of that, we are trying to decide if we want a tankless or tank hot water heater. The cost there is a big issue here so we have to not only look at usage costs but up front costs. This is so not like buying a fridge where I could just pick a pretty one!
I am tired of hot water heaters … I would rather look at stoves since they pretty and that is still on our list.
Do appliances nominate themselves to be replaced at your house too? Leave us a comment and let us know!
5 Days Left 
3 Days Left 
74 Days Left 
2 Days Left