Bathroom Woes Anyone?

We have been having one sort of plumbing problem or other for the past year. I guess that's the price you pay for living in an old house. Our house was built in the 40's and hadn't really gone through any major renovations since it was built. Now that it's approaching its half century mark, it's finally showing its age. Things are starting to go one at a time.

Last year, it was the laundry room. Now, we're in the midst of tackling the bathrooms which have slowly developed faucet leaks, peeling paints and inefficient design for today's lifestyle. Believe it or not, one of the bathrooms still has only a claw foot tub to wash in. No shower. Now we're not getting rid of the tub, mind you. I love that cast iron monstrosity! I just want to add a shower. My girls are teenagers and have gotten past the tub baths stage. They just want to take their showers and go.

So. For the last few months we have been canvassing for bathroom accessories. They are high! Who would have thought a faucet or shower head would cost over $100! Well I guess they have always been that way, I just never had much of an opportunity to shop for them before.

Anyway, we've been finding some cool places for bathroom paraphernalia. I think we've finally decided on a look we want to go for. Since our house is old, I think we're sticking to more traditional designs although some of the new, sleek designs are really pretty.

Now the next step is finding the right contractor to do the job. Someone who will do a good job but not be too expensive. I have a feeling this will be another woe to worry about :)

The Spa in Your Own Home

Even during these hard economic times, or rather because of it, there is nothing better to improve our disposition than having a nice, comfortable living space. So people, even though they may not be able to afford to step up to a bigger house right now, are opting on doing improvements and renovations of the homes that they are in now.

We all have our ideal standard bathrooms in mind or rather in our fantasies, but if you can't afford that, simply adding or changing bathroom accessories can do wonders to an old and outdated room. For instance, kudos showers are quite stylish and functional at the same time and would make a marked improvement in any bathroom. If you're in the UK, check out Fairfield Bathroom Direct for your redecorating and improvement needs.

Mailboxes Suited to a Tee

I love getting mail. Even with email, text messaging and cell phones, there is nothing like getting a handwritten letter in the mail. It just makes you feel so much closer to the sender. It is so much more personal to know they touched this paper and took the time to stamp it and mail it to you.

I love that I live in a neighborhood where mailboxes are still in vogue and very much in use. People still polish up their mailboxes and spruce them up for the spring. At SeattleLuxe.com, no matter what your personality is, they will probably have the right mailbox to suit you. They have fabulous curbside mailboxes, they also carry unique wall mounted mailboxes and some very elegant copper and brass boxes.

SeattleLuxe has excellent customer service. Their sales representatives will answer any questions you have about situating, installing or securing your mailboxes in addition to making sure that you are getting the best price and getting your order to you in a timely manner. They will also tell you about the mailbox warranty they offer which will cover your purchase against damage and vandalism.

Personalized Home

Doormats have gotten a bad rep. You may be like me where the mere word doormat already sets my guards up. But, this time I am not using the term metaphorically. I really am referring to the actual doormat, the first thing that your guests come upon when they walk up to your door.

They say that a home reflects the personality of its occupants. So if you are the welcoming sort of person, personalized doormats can let your visitors know you are proud of your home and they are welcome to cross its threshold. A variety of styles are available to suit your style and way of life. Sometimes a pretty and brightly colored mat may not do the job. Maybe your lifestyle needs a no nonsense, utilitarian mat. Well, it may be hardworking, but it doesn't have to be drab. You can still have an attractive and personalize mat that is also useful.

Doormats are not the only things you can personalize on your house though. A custom address plaque could also be a very nice addition to your home's facade. Having a personalized home address sign shows not only your pride in your home but it also highlights what could be a very mundane sign and makes an elegant statement about you.

With Christmas coming up, a personalized gift is worth considering.

Hot Water Lobster

If you're a foodie like me and you hear hot water lobster, you are probably thinking, "butter, lots of butter!", yeah? Well in this case, that's not what I'm talking about. Hot water lobster is a device that provides hot water real fast, faster than your usual hot water heater, and in doing so conserves energy and time.

The weather is getting cooler again, and I'm sure more of us are going to be taking hotter and hotter showers. Have you ever gone to take your shower in the morning and ended up standing in front of the shower waiting for the water to get hot enough for you to step in? During these times when we're supposed to conserve water, this step is just totally unnecessary with the hot water lobster. Using a control valve, the hot water lobster senses when the hot water in your pipes are cooling off and returns them to the water heater to heat up. This saves you energy because by maintaining a constant temperature, your hot water heater does not start from scratch each time it powers up. By having instant hot water, you save water because you are not running water while waiting for it to warm up. Hot water lobster.....that's because with this device, you're "always in hot water".

Mail Box Exchange

There is a place on the internet called mailboxIxchange.com. They specialize in all types of mailboxes. The first thing that comes to mind when someone says mailboxes is residential mailboxes. But that's because I live in a place where people's mailboxes are still a reflection of the residents of a particular address. I see a variety of mailboxes while driving around my neighborhood all the time, from your run of the mill black metal ones to some very artistic and ornate ones.

All those types of mailboxes are available at MailboxIxchange, but they also carry
commercial mailboxes. These are the kind of mailboxes you see in businesses. If you have a large company or apartment building for instance, they carry the kinds that have individual locks and built into the wall. They have the types that can accommodate packages and the kind that are on pedestals. Depending on your needs, they probably have just the right one for you.

If you happen to really like their mailboxes like I do, they have an
affiliate program that could earn you money everytime you refer someone to their site and they make a purchase. I'm going to sign up for it I think, so you'll probably be seeing a button somewhere on the sidebar soon. Drop by here first before you go buying a mailbox, ok? ;-)

Are you a DIYer?

DIY? That's for Do-it-Yourself, which is what most of us are turning to these days. There is just something very satisfying about doing a project all by yourself. Standing back to admire your accomplishment is reward enough. At least in our house anyway.

My husband, because of his penchant for doing things on his own, is a power tool junkie. Even the kids, from an early age, have known this and always picked something to do with power tools for his presents. Now if we were in the U.K, he would be running to this site that offers great deals on power tools. They carry all brands, like Skil, Bosch, Makita and Panasonic tools. Whatever your project needs, they will probably have just the right tools to make it easier for you. If it's nothing but a power screwdriver or if you want to get fancy with a router, they have the power tool for you.

Holiday Organizing

The weather is turning cooler and the holidays are here again. There is nothing like having to rummage through a crowded storage shed looking for holiday decorations to remind you that you need to organize. We keep saying that we will look into storage solutions every year. And every year we look at the same mess. Well this year, I think, is the breaking point. Carguygarage.com offers a variety of storage solutions that we can definitely use and you can too. Don't forget, Christmas is coming up and it's not just the decorations that you'll be worrying about soon. Don't forget the additional toys and gadgets that will soon be hitting your kids' rooms. Heaven help us!

Fancy a Cuppa

If you are a coffee lover, it's great that Starbucks and other coffee shops are now found in practically every street corner and shopping center that you can get a java fix just about anytime you feel like it. There are times though, when nothing beats being able to stay home and enjoy the same quality cup of coffee in the comfort of your own kitchen.

For times like these, having your own espresso/cappuccino maker is priceless. Incanto Sirius Coffee and Espresso Makers come with a built in water filter and coffee grinder ensuring a perfect cup of coffee each time. The intuitive control panel allows you to control the brew strength. You can experiment with the strength of your brew by adjusting the water volume and amount of coffee grind, for instance. The hotwater dispenser and steam function in each unit, allows for a perfect latte or capuccino each time.

There are several models in varying price ranges available from many retailers to choose from.

Make Your Home Shine

My husband prefers wood to metal. He loves to work with wood, after all. But, when it comes to the kitchen and decorating around the house, he is drawn to things that are shiny and clean. Me, while I can't care less about the decor in the rest of the house, I am a kitchen person. I live in the kitchen, and in the kitchen, stainless steel is a good thing.

The Stainless Steel Store has a variety of high quality products that will not only enhance your decor, I love that most of them are practical and usable. They have some very unique kitchen accessories that are very affordable and very chic and sleek. And if you think that steel would be too harsh in the garden, check out their greens section and maybe you will change your mind.

I was just thinking while I was browsing through their website how many of the items would make unique wedding presents or just a gift for any occasion. I really like the fact their prices are very reasonable too.

Accept with grace

Can you accept mail with grace? There was a time, I don't know if you remember, when people looked forward to getting letters through the mail rather than their computers. Walking to the mailbox to retrieve the daily mail was a ritual and almost had a Christmas like anticipation to it. I'm glad to see that where we live, this ritual is not yet totally lost. When I drive around, especially in older neighborhoods, I still see mailboxes on the curb and some people still go through the trouble of decorating them and making them look attractive.

One place that specializes in high quality mailboxes is Mailboxixchange.com. However your taste may run, whether stylish or whimsical, they have a variety of mailboxes to choose from. Not only do they have residential mailboxes, they also carry commercial mailboxes if those are what you need. If you are concerned with security, they also address those needs and sell high security mailboxes that are sturdy and vandal proof. There are a good variety of styles available to fit your preference and need.

If you are really into mailboxes and would like to share this information with others, you can become an affiliate by referring visitors to your website to give their mailboxes a try. I did! So when you have need for a mailbox, don't forget to start your search here.

Windows are the eyes of your home's face

Anglian is a company based in the UK known for high quality Home improvements. One of the many home improvement products offered are a variety of window systems. Double glazing on windows is a must in England and other cold weather places. They keep the cold out and keep the heat in, saving homeowners from having to pay high heating bills. All their replacement windows come with a ten year guarantee so you know you are getting a high quality product. If you live in the UK and in need of some home improvement, make sure you consult Anglian Home Improvements first.

Shopping for Insurance?

You always hear on the news about houses burned to the ground because of faulty electrical wiring or some other bizarre reason, and the residents lost everything they had. All their clothes, their furniture, their knick knacks, photographs, memorabilia, everything. It could be a flood or other natural calamity that puts your home on jeopardy; or it could be just some fool who hurts himself while on your property. You just never know what could happen that may cause you to lose your home. That prompted us to revisit our insurance coverage for the house so we looked online for home owner insurance quote.

We found this site that offers multiple quotes online. Not only do they provide quotes for home insurance, you can also use the site to search for quotes for auto, health, or life insurance among others. Even better, their service applies nationwide and is not area specific. That means you can search for coverage for your state no matter where you live. If you have a business, they also provide services for business insurance needs.

The website also offers a Learning Center that provides tips and information on the different types of insurance and coverage. Whether you are ready to sign up for coverage and are looking for the best deal or you are just curious to see what your options are or how your present coverage compares, 2Insure4Less.com is a good place to start your investigation.

In Our Backyard

Our Backyard has a new home! We are now In Our Backyard. We're not vacating this spot though, we'll still be here, but we'll be growing something else. Something like reviews and featuring more things about gardening. So look for a slightly different take on our backyard than just the usual photos.

In the meantime, here's one that I had been playing with on photoshop. This is a photo of my mom's house. She loves to garden too.

The digging has begun

It's just about spring again, and the garden is starting to wake up from its winter nap. It's being dug up and moved around again, perfect time for our mole hill climber to clamber up and down on and make shelters for her buddies.

The Street Where We Live