May 24, 2013

Renovation Nightmare…

Thanks for the guest post by Jo Levy

I can’t believe how much work this house has become. Has anyone out there ever redone a house from top to bottom? I hate that it’s taking me so long as I wanted to host a big housewarming party this spring but it’s looking like I’m not going to be done until like fall, at the earliest. When I bought this house I thought it was going to be a fun project. I spent a long time looking intowww.electriccompaniesindallas.com for good energy rates and talking to painters about whether or not they could do faux texture on the walls…little did I know I was going to have termites all within the walls and basically rotted pipes from the basement to the attic. Yeesh. No one wants to spend their renovation budget on things like that because it’s not something anyone will ever SEE. The improvements I’ve spent tens of thousands of dollars on are the things that matter most to the construction of the home but they’re certainly not what’s going to sell the place. I’ve spent so much time in sawdust up to my ankles and wearing a fumigationmask I don’t know that I remember what I look like clean anymore. I think the advice I would give to any other renovator would be to buy your first reno home with nothing more than cosmetic improvements needed. There’s nothing good that can come from basically having to take the house down to the studs unless you’re a contractor yourself, which I am most definitely not. I never imagined this place would take so long and I would have to sink so much money into it – I think I’m going to have to live here for several years to get any of my money back out. I guess that’s the way the cookie crumbles, though, and that’s what happens when you take a risk like I did. You never win unless you play!

Sarongs for Women

Hand Painted / Embroidered Sarongs High-End Pertama Sarongs
Sarongs are beautifully printed, multi-colored, and perhaps the most versatile piece of clothing you will ever own. You can find a variety of sarongs for women from fairwindssarongs.com. They even carry plus sizes. Fairwindssarongs.com has a great variety. They sort their wide selection by style for easy shopping. Escape to a tropical paradise with lovely Hawaiian print sarongs. Feel luxurious and exotic in hand-printed, silk, and embroidered sarongs. You can even get one or two solid color sarongs in your favorite colors. So how exactly do you wear a sarong? It depends on what you feel like that day. Kedua sarongs are lightweight and perfect for wearing around your waist and strolling on the beach. Wear an embroidered sarong around your waist for a beautiful, exotic skirt. Or tie a sarong around yourself to create a beautiful dress. You can make your look as casual or fancy as you like with styles ranging from black sequined sarongs to light and airy floral designs. You can find more information about sarongs and how to tie them under the "Sarong Fashion, Travel, and Beauty Information" section. The website also has a number of accessories that you can wear with your new sarong. Choose from the selection of beach bags, beach hats, and jewelry to compliment your style. They also sell beautifully decorated sarong tying accessories to make your style even more intricate and beautiful. Fairwindsarongs.com is a great online destination for beautiful sarongs of all types. This website is a great place to start your summer shopping spree.

May 23, 2013

Don't Mess With Texas

I bought myself a new pair of mitten and pot holder. I really like it because it's so Texan...lol!
I bought this pair for $7.99 at Fort Sam Houston Army Exchange.

Police Wife

This guest post from Werner Rogers
My husband is a police officer and I’m pretty much always worried he’s not going to come home after his shift. I really wish he did something less dangerous but at least he has good benefits and makes enough money that I can stay home with the kids. I really love being a mom and we’ve just purchased our first home which is exciting. Each of the kids have their own rooms and I’ve been spending my days looking into lawnmowers for the yard and on a website my neighbor told me about to research the different utility companies in the area. I’ve never had to sign up for electricity because I’ve always been a renter! There’s something really comforting about having a yard for the dog to play in and a closet for each of the kids. I thought about it long and hard (because my husband was considering quitting the force) and we decided it made more sense for him to keep working for the police company so we could afford a house. We really wanted a place for the kids to grow up and it just made more sense to buy in a good school district while home prices were still cheap enough. The market is really turning around in our area so I was worried if we didn’t buy soon we were going to get priced out of the market like we did last time. I’ve never been one to care about things like that but you know, at the end of the day I had to learn the statistics of the real estate market in our area and do the research about mortgages because my husband’s schedule is just so crazy there’s no way to predict when he would be able to meet with anyone who could help us. Sometimes being a policeman’s wife means feeling like a single mom but I love my husband and I feel like my job is to carry the weight at home.

May 18, 2013

Crocs #SplashofColor Sweepstakes!

This post brought to you by Crocs. All opinions are 100% mine.

 photo ScreenShot2013-05-14at35030PM_zpsf6f90f08.png

Calling all Crocs lovers! How would you like to win a $3,000 shopping spree from Crocs?! All you have to do is follow these simple steps:

1. Using the Instagram app on your smartphone, capture 3 “Splashes of Color” and upload them to your Instagram account with the hashtag #splashofcolor.

2. Then connect your Instagram account through the Crocs Instagram Sweepstakes and enter to win!

3. Complete the entry form so they can contact you if you win! Hurry because this contest ends on 5/20/2013. So make sure to get your entries right now. You can upload three photos a day.

I already shared these photos on my Instagram account with the hashtag #SPLASHOFCOLOR, and hoping I could win the $3000 shopping spree!

Photo: Yeehaw! #splashofcolor
A week's wardrobe in Texas
My daughter's wall decals
Don't Mess With Texas Mitten and Hot Pad

So make sure you enter the Crocs Instagram Sweepstakes, and leave your comment letting me know why you want to win too! Just use the Instagram app on your smart phone to capture “Splashes of Color”— be it a gorgeous sunrise, bold colorful nails, or a big city night. Tag it with #splashofcolor and enter for a chance to win a “Splash of Color” prize package and shopping spree from Crocs!

Visit Sponsor's Site

May 15, 2013

Thread Inserts & Accessories

If you are into woodworking, then you know that without the proper tools and equipment, you won’t be able to finish all your wood working projects properly and on time. You need to invest in the right equipment and tools. You should also have all the replacement parts that you would need. You can order a variety of replacement parts online such as nut inserts, threaded inserts and key locking inserts. You also buy the repair kits that you will need to be able to use each thread properly.

May 12, 2013

Sink Strainer

I got myself a new sink strainer. I like this because it's see-through. I bought it at our local HEB store for $2.50.
This sink strainer traps debris while letting water drain. Stain resistant and dishwasher safe.

May 9, 2013

Printable Tattoo Designs

 The days of limiting yourself to the tattoo designs available at your local parlor are over. One local tattoo artist can never satisfy the design needs of every customer who walks through the door. You want the perfect design since you will be stuck with this for the rest of your life, so you do not want to settle for "close enough." What happens if you do not know what design you want? Do you ask a tattoo artist to create something with no idea how to please you? This no longer has to be a problem since you have the opportunity to select a design online and print it out. You can find professional quality printable tattoo designs at BullsEyeTattoos.com. The site features tattoo designs created by talented artists in a variety of colors and themes. You can search the site by categories, which allows you to narrow down your options based on the area of the body you will place your tattoo or the theme you know you want. Even if you do not find the perfect tattoo design at BullsEyeTattoos.com, you may find something that is almost what you want. Print that out and take it to your local tattoo artist, but tell your artist how you would like to change the design. You will end up with a unique design that makes exactly the statement you want to make. BullsEyeTattoos.com ensures that everyone has access to professional tattoo designs. The site also ensures local tattoo artists have better informed customers, and that ensures better in-parlor designs. Rather than asking your artist to magically take an idea from your brain and put it on your skin, you can now show your artist what is in your mind through printed artwork.