Moms….what do you think of this article? Can you relate?
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/dear-whoever-makes-those-cleaning-product-commercials-youre-doing-it-wrong-515559/
Here is an exerpt:
"A woman, in a glass cage filled with already-clean kitchen appliances and cabinets, quips that she doesn’t have time to clean because she has to go pick up her kids, but is able to wipe up a few smudges and smears without having to use several different cleaners. After she’s done, the place looks exactly the same, but she looks tired and relieved.
I don’t know about you, but my housework workload would not be significantly reduced by not having to switch cleaning products while dusting my bookshelves. For one thing, my bookshelves are too cluttered for me to see the actual shelving and, for another, who’s going to scrutinize my bookshelves besides my mom, who gave up on my cleaning decades ago?
I guess I just don’t relate to these commercials. Who are these women? I do not have snow-white carpets throughout my home and, if I did, I would not smile and sigh ruefully when my child spills a glass of grape juice upon it, because who lets their preschoolers wander through the house with open, breakable glasses of anything, let alone something that stains?"
LOL I enjoyed that article, Thank you for sharing it.
To answer your question: I just finished doing a load of laundry, yet to be folded, and finally cleaned the kitchen that hadn’t been cleaned since Monday as my wonderful 13yo daughter brought me home a nice cold that put me out of commission most of Monday and all of yesterday. I was amazed at just how messy my apt gets when I go just ONE day without picking up and cleaning the kitchen. I only have 2 kids, my husband isn’t even home right now. And I try my hardest to make my girls pick up after themselves. But the kitchen, oh lord the kitchen.. I really do hate the kitchen. My 3yo is of no help yet and my 13yo moans and groans when I tell her to put away the dishes. To which I end up doing half the time anyway cuz I don’t want to wait til 5pm when she finally gets home. So after just a day and a half of not cleaning the kitchen it was a complete mess from floor to stove top to the sink full of dishes spewing out onto the counter tops. I couldn’t take it anymore so with red nose running, wiping it when I had to on my sleeve, I cleaned my god forsaken kitchen!
And as a reminder… as my mother once wisely told me… the dishes and laundry can wait, but your kids won’t always want to play or cuddle with you.
Calgon… take me away!!
my husband is not handy at all I can not afford to hire a handy man right now . I have this great rattan shelving unit that needs some support it wobbles I am afraid it will tip over I store my heavy cooking pots and pans, and cook books.
Can Mr. Notsohandy use a screwdriver? Send him to the hardware store for four 1/4"x 2" lag screws and four 1/4" fender washers. Tap on the wall to find the stud, mark it with a pencil line, then get him to screw the lag screws (with the washers on them) through the rattan and into the stud.
Whether you have an old-fashioned screened porch, a patch of wooden deck or lawn, a patio by the pool, or a balcony in a highrise condo, you have the basic requirements for a summer of “al fresco” (outdoor) living.
Blame our long, cold winters, but at the first sign that warm weather is here, Canadians rush to move ourselves - hammocks, chairs, tables… even fully equipped kitchens - to the great outdoors. Take some time to plan your outdoor living space this summer - and you’ll find that you’re spending more time - and better time - enjoying the brief summer season.
First, take a look at what you’ve got, and consider when and how you will be spending your time outdoors. If you’re working away from home most days, pay special attention to how your outdoor living space can be used for morning breakfasts and evening meals and relaxing. Got a crew of kids enjoying a summer at home? Remember that you’ll need to accommodate their needs during the hottest part of the day. At a minimum, you’ll want a) a place to share an outdoor meal, and b) a comfortable place to relax.
To plan for comfort on hot days, consider how you’ll get shade. If you’re lucky enough to have a mature tree or two, be sure to take advantage of the cool shade you’ve got at your disposal. It’s not just the shade that cools; a mature tree draws cool moisture from deep in the ground and expires it into the surrounding air. If you don’t have natural shade, you’ll need to find some - under a covered porch or pergola, for example - or create some - with umbrellas, or some kind of canopy.
For living outdoors in the evening, you’ll need to think about some soft lighting to enable you to enjoy your night under the stars. This can be as simple or elaborate as you like: Chinese lanterns, hurricane lamps, candelabra hanging from a branch, or just a row of tealights in jam jars. For no-fuss, all-summer lighting, drape strands of electric fairy lights in trees or around doorways and put the switch on a timer. Every evening, these lights will be an open invitation to head outdoors. And don’t let mosquitoes drive you indoors. If you don’t have a screened porch, then make use of citronella candles - placed generously around your living space just before twilight.
Al fresco meals are part of summer life. Even a morning coffee tastes better outdoors. So don’t limit yourself to the standard “burgers on the barbie”; plan some weekend brunches and candlelit dinners. To make it easy to prepare and enjoy your meal, set up your outdoor living space with an extra sidetable to hold plates, cutlery and extra serving dishes. The same space might work as a bar for drinks. Find a good container - like a large galvanized tub - to fill with ice and beverages. If you don’t have a chafing dish, start looking for one; they’re great for keeping your entrees warm when dining outdoors. And don’t forget a few heat-proof serving trays for transporting food to the table.
To maximize your enjoyment of your summer space, go beyond the basics and decorate your outdoor living area as you would any other room in the house: decide on a theme, select colours, consider accessories. You don’t need to have the standard patio furniture set. Walk around your house and yard taking stock of what you’ve already got to work with. A few tired chairs and an old kitchen table from your student days? Get out the paint. You could create a whimsical setting inspired by either Beatrix Potter or Picasso. Or mix garage sale finds with an exotic shawl and Moroccan lanterns for an eastern theme. Love a modern, stripped-down aesthetic? Look for inexpensive aluminum chairs and industrial-style tables and shelving units. Add a hit of colour, or keep it neutral with aluminum trays of pea gravel and neat pots of clipped turfgrass as a centerpiece.
Be sure that your outdoor living space includes a spot for utter relaxation: a hammock strung between two trees, or perhaps a few comfortable Muskoka chairs with broad arms to hold a drink. Or a sling chair that’s slouchy enough to snooze in. While some choices are dictated by conviviality, this decision should be strictly for comfort!
Setting up your outdoor living space is like adding an extension to the house; it adds a whole new dimension to your lifestyle, and a whole new opportunity to enjoy your home. There’s a reason why, at our favourite restaurants, the patio tables always fill up first - especially in the evening. We love to live outdoors. With a little planning, this summer, you can live “al fresco” every day…at home.
The House Team Of Mortgage Intellingence
http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/live-quotal-frescoquot-this-summer-91016.html
I bought a regular cookie cutter 3bed-2bath-2car 1590 sq. ft. house brand new in December 2008 for $125,000 with nearly NO upgrades, being a handy person that can do them myself for cheaper. My question is: approximately how much value will I have added to my house through home improvements? So far I’ve:
1. painted the walls (they were white) and put up blinds/curtains,
2. put in ceiling fixtures,
3. put in a pool,
4. put in a river rock border around the backyard (was a dirt lot) with a stone paver barrier,
5. put in flowering bushes to cover the pool equipment,
6. put in grass,
7. put in stone pavers on one side of the pool as a deck,
8. added a 4′ invisible pool fence (removable),
9. added a French door from the master bedroom straight out to the pool deck,
10. put up shelving in the garage,
11. put child safety latches on cabinets (removable),
12. put child safety alarm on back door (removable),
13. put anti-theft locks on exterior doors,
14. upgraded all kitchen appliances
and that’s about it, I’ve been a busy bee the last 10 months.
The pool was probably a waste of money and the worst thing you could have done. Except for certain parts of the country like the southwest. Of all your other things you did the paint was the only thing you did that was an upgrade. You need to do work on the kitchen and baths. They are the two most important areas of your home to improve. Since all the other improvement revolve around the pool they are not upgrades. The three exterior upgrades needed to improve homes are windows, paint or siding, and landscaping. Here are some links to help you. Good luck with your home.
http://www.buy-and-sell-house-fast.com/sell-house/upgrade-before-selling-house.shtml
http://ezinearticles.com/?Building-For-High-Resale-Value,-What-Upgrades-You-Need,-Which-You-Should-Go-Without&id=537991
We read that ‘Gerry and Kate McCann have thanked Ben Affleck for postponing the release of his new movie about an abducted child, called ‘Gone Baby Gone’
Ben Affleck insisted at the time that he did not want to "inflame anybody’s sensitivities" by releasing the film, saying: "We are acutely aware of the situation surrounding Madeleine McCann. The movie is just a commercial matter, whereas this is a matter of life and death"
But since film is an artform, and many of us are against the censorship, or even self censorship of the arts, do you believe this film should have been shown regardless ? was the decision really that Affleck did not want to "inflame anybody’s sensitivities", or is it more base, that he feared the movie would bomb commercially particularly in the UK ?
Source: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/a77450/mccanns-thank-affleck-for-shelving-film.html
Tabbyfur - no I dont live with ‘Puddy’, she lives with ‘Tom tom’
im shocked by this, but ONLY if it really was because of the Mccanns, remember that there may be an impending trial, for all we know, the police or whoever, may have put pressure on him to delay it, in case of people getting confused thinking its a documentary (yes some people are that dim),,, OR the mccanns claiming that due to the film being released, the trial would be prejudiced.
I used to work in a public library, shelving books every day, and the pop fiction author whose books I shelved the most was probably Nora Roberts. Being a college student and a literature major, I’ve never had the time or inclination to read Roberts, but was amazed at her sheer volume. The only other bestselling pop writer who might have had more titles in our collection was Danielle Steel. Also at the fact that Roberts writes in multiple genres: romance, mystery, sci-fi/fantasy and possibly others.
How does she write so many books? I am guessing that either she’s a genius or that cranks out lightweight fluff (again, I haven’t read any of her books). One of my coworkers suggested that Roberts might have a ghostwriter.
she has nothing else to do.
Doors are almost like an address and identity to a home. A door, unique in style, design and finish makes a statement about its owner’s taste. So, while on a Home Remodeling process, care should be taken in selecting doors.
Door models and makes differ for each room and needs. Broadly speaking, doors can be classified as Antique Doors, Fiberglass Doors, Garage Doors, Patio Doors, Sliding Doors, French Doors, Interior Doors, Swinging Doors, Entry Doors and Front Doors.
Entry Doors in antique style can be suitable if one has a palace for a home. Doors made with solid Indian Teak together with original hand forged accessories, French doors salvaged from buildings in France, doors made of thick solid oak salvaged from early 1900s home and other such doors from various ancient and historic homes and places can give a real royal look to the home.
Fiberglass doors are available for both entry and indoor purposes. Fiberglass doors made to look like mahogany or oak, with stiles made from engineered wood with PUF cores for energy efficiency and rot-resistant bottom rail make a good choice as entry doors. Fiberglass doors made to look like traditional hardwood door, ready to install doors in 14 pre finished colors, besides doors of fiberglass panels in solid colors to conceal scratches and abrasions make a good selection.
Interior doors may be styled as swinging doors. Louvered doors in custom sizes with a choice of mahogany, cedar, poplar, cherry, maple or others may look ideal in a room where the doorway is arched. A full length book-case as a secret passage way is available. The doors come with deeper shelving, with options to make it in ash, basswood, maple and more.
Sliding doors come handy where space is a problem. But they make a style statement in places where the space is plenty. Sliding patio doors, moving on steel-wheel rollers, with a fiberglass mesh and extruded aluminum frame for heavy use with options of red oak, pine or black walnut make is one of the many styles available in the market.
Patio doors are available in such a style that it’s difficult to tell where the indoor ends and outdoor begins. Patio doors are treated for water and insect resistance, with opening styles including sliding, out swing, in swing, hinged and bi-parting. Patio doors, offer protection against winds, debris and break-ins.
Doors are often the first ring of protection against break-ins. Care should be taken while choosing a door. The door may be for the entrance or for the backdoor. But, for each purpose a specific kind of door, made up of specific material is available. Choice of doors should not be made based on the suggestions of friends and relatives or on the basis of an attractive advertisement in a magazine. One should not place a teak wood door for the bathroom just because he can afford it to. It would only make the owner seem to be a fool to others. A right door at the right place will not only mean a good decision but also value added to a beautiful home.
Linda Polansky
http://www.articlesbase.com/internet-articles/home-remodeling-products-118596.html
I have contacted the senators from every state that was considering a yes vote. I guess a lot of you did too.
It gives me a swelling of pride…kind of like "Bob" in the Enzyte commercial!
Shanelladd,
Richardson win? That’s hilarious! Everyone knows he plays for the other team.
It has been shelved at the moment but I would not be surprised to see it appear again with some more modifications.
I would think just the military part would be able to pass, it would make for legal immigration to be very interesting if it did.
Can Stern and commercial free radio make enough of a difference to pull a stock from the gutter to the upper shelve?
The real question is if the Government will allow XM and Sirius to merge. If so, then this stock could fly.. Right now though, I would not be in this stock.. Ugly chart, really.. It just broke some recent support and next support is around the 2.00 dollar level.
Unless you are shorting, there is currently no reason to be in this stock long at all.
Sorry 
Garage Shelves and New Gate