Replace your Furnace Filter

Hello there!<br/><br/>Today I woke up and realized the heat has been on almost non-stop for 3 months. The windows have been opened only <del>when I burned the bacon last week</del> occasionally, and the dog and cat have been indoors more than usual. And that means, dust, and dog hair, and general nastiness in the air. Which means the furnace filter probably needs to be replaced.<br/><br/>They work better when they're clean, and that means cleaner air and heat, which means better heat bills.<br/><br/>Before I get to how to replace the filter, you need to buy replacements. They come in different sizes and are usually sold in 6-packs, so you can store them until you need them. If anyone in your family has allergies, consider a HEPA filter. If you click the link below, you can find the size you need.<br/><br/><iframe style="width: 120px; height: 240px;" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fymoho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B002CJN0H2&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="320" height="240"></iframe><br/><br/><strong>Four steps to furnace filter freshness:</strong><br/><br/>1. Assuming you have the correct filters it's time to find your furnace. We have two. One in the basement, and one on the second floor. This may sound like an easy task but for me it was an adventure. Especially finding the furnace in the basement. My journey to the center of the basement included a hike through what one might call no-mans land.  I had to journey through the motorcycle grave yard, over paint can mountain, and through power tool valley - narrowly escaping cat litter abyss. (Lucky I remembered bottled water and protein bars.)<br/><br/>2. Assuming you have located your furnace, find the filter.  It is a framed mesh rectangle, and you will know it needs changing when it's brown and you can't see through it. Usually after ONE month (not 3 like me!).<br/><br/><img alt="Change a Furnace Filter - Comparison" height="279" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/wordpress_production/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/OldVsNewFilter-spaco.jpg" title="change-a-furnace-filter-comparison" width="495" /><br/>(photo from Bobvilla.com)<br/><br/><em>Weird furnace fact from my house</em> - I sleep on a feather pillow, and the feathers get everywhere, including, apparently, all the way to the basement. The filter actually had feathers in it!<br/><br/>3. So you've located the filter. Throw away the old filter and put the new filter in it's place, which is a fairly easy task. Just turn off the furnace. Pull out the existing filter (located near the intake/outtake blower fan). Slide in a new filter and don't forget to turn the furnace back on.<br/><br/>4. Find your way back <del>home</del> upstairs.<br/><br/>YAY! I can almost see see the clean air!<br/><br/><em>Okay, so I guess I shouldn't be so proud that I changed the furnace filter, but I get excited about little things.</em> Champagne anyone?

Replace your Furnace Filter

Hello there! Today I woke up and realized the heat has been on almost non-stop for 3 months. The windows have been opened only  when I burne...

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Tools You Need

Having a conversation with Big A is <em>usually</em> very helpful.  But some days, well, not so much.<br/><br/>Me:  <em>Which tools could you not live without when it comes to the house?</em><br/><br/>Big A: <em> My car-washing mitt.</em><br/><br/>Me: <em> I said for the HOUSE.</em><br/><br/>Big A:  <em>Honey, the only tool you need in this house is my brain.</em><br/><br/>Me:  <em>I'm pretty sure you just called yourself a tool.</em><br/><br/>Clearly, I wanted his help making a list of the tools that a new home owner would love as a gift. But I guess I'm on my own!<br/><br/>Here goes:<br/><br/><strong>Compound Mitre Saw. </strong> Big A couldn't live without this.  For quick accurate cuts, but long rips are not possible. It's relatively small, and therefore portable. Big A uses his for moulding. I really need to learn to use this so that I can make my own frames!  From wikipedia: A <em>compound miter saw</em> has a rotating vertical pivot allowing the cutter head and blade to be tilted sideways in addition to the horizontally rotating table. This allows vertical and horizontal angled cuts as well as cuts angled in both planes. (In English: it can cut angles).<br/><br/><strong>Cordless Drill.</strong>  Every home owner or apartment dweller needs a cordless drill.  Use it to drive screws and drill holes.  The battery size is important for long periods of use and a short charging time.  Look for a drill with a reverse switch and a keyless clutch.  Try the drill in your hand to make sure the fit is good.  The size of the handles and weight vary.<br/><br/><strong>Gorilla Cart.</strong>  Forget wheelbarrows.  This is easy to load and unload.  A new home owner has a lot of hauling to do and this makes it much easier.  It doesn't tip over, and you can load it with gravel, rocks, lawn debris, groceries, garbage, mulch, etc.  The handle comes off so that you can attach it to a lawn mower or ATV.<br/><br/><strong>Nail Gun.  </strong> If you have any major work to do that requires hammering, a nail gun will make the job go a lot faster and save your shoulders! A nail gun requires an air compresser.  There are cordless nail guns, but they drain the battery very quickly, plus, if you buy an air compresser you can use that for lots of other things.<br/><br/><strong>Air Compressor.</strong>  For me the main consideration is portability.  An electric air compressor can be used for nail gun, staplers, filling tires, blowing spider webs away... There are kits sold that include nailers, staplers and air compressors.<br/><br/><strong>Power washer.  </strong>I love the power washer.  As long as you choose one that is light enough to easily move it around, you can't go wrong.  We have one that is very heavy, so I can only use it when Big A is here to move it where I need it. You can clean the grill, your car tires, the porch, sidewalks, outdoor rugs (carefully), remove old chipping paint...<br/><br/>That's it for now.  If Big A comes up with any useful suggestions, I'll update this post.  However, I'm not going to hold my breath - he's busy washing his truck.<br/><br/><img alt="" height="400" id="il_fi" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/stores/auto/detail-page/B000QX52CM1lg.jpg" width="600" /><br/><br/><a href="http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=as_acph_thi_thd_122_1225?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=ur2&node=5709829011&tag=fymoho-20" target="_blank">Shop Amazon - Top Holiday Deals in Tools </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=fymoho-20&l=ur2&o=1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br/><p style="text-align: center;"> Important note:</p><br/><p style="text-align: center;"><em>If you give any of these as gifts to a woman, best to give it WITH a pair of earrings or new boots.  Tools are useful and great gifts, but, let's face it, they don't make your ears or feet look good.</em></p>

Tools You Need

Having a conversation with Big A is usually very helpful.  But some days, well, not so much. Me:   Which tools could you not live without w...

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Thank God for Kids

<p style="text-align: center;">Note:<br/>This is the mushiest post I will ever write.<br/>Bear with me, and I will go back to my usual sarcasm tomorrow.<br/>***********</p><br/><p style="text-align: center;">Growing up in my family, Christmas music consisted of Willie Nelson, John Denver, and The Oak Ridge Boys - to name a few. Oh, my sister and I complained about our parents subjecting us to those country classics.  We wanted to listen to modern Christmas songs, from Band Aid, and The Pogues "Fairy Tale in New York".  (Okay, they're not modern <em>NOW</em>..)  But secretly, my favorite Christmas album <em>was</em> The Oak Ridge Boys, and particularly the song "Thank God For Kids".  I think I liked it so much because it was reassuring to me.  <em>If The Oakridge Boys liked kids, then surely my Mom and Dad liked me!  Even if I did swim in ponds, and refused to wear dresses...</em></p><br/>Now that I have kids of my own, I really, really love that song. Because now I know the meaning behind it.<br/><br/>But today was, well, one of those days.  As you may know, we built our house about a year and a half ago.  It cost quite a bit of money, and took a lot of work to get it the way we wanted it.  We are in the house honeymoon period, and more than a little house proud.<br/><br/>However, despite our best efforts to keep our home clean, and to decorate, and DIY -  today I noticed the following:<br/><br/>The carpet in the living room has little drip stains dribbled from one end to the other (presumably milk).  There's a hole in one of the bedroom walls (another Tonka truck incident).  The kids bathroom has a water damaged baseboard, because the shower curtain is constantly left open.  Big A just had to pull out a toilet because someone thought it was okay to flush a q-tip.  There are air-soft "bullets" all over the yard, and Nerf bullets all over the house.  There's a half finished go-cart in the hedge row. The cabinet housing the trash, has something resembling spaghetti sauce permanently dripping down the inside of the door.  There are grimy fingerprints on <em>every</em> light switch and faucet handle.... And I could go on.<br/><br/><em>C'mon guys! This is our beautiful new home!!!</em><br/><br/>And then I heard <em>that song</em> today.  And I got a little weepy.<br/><br/>Because that song made me think - despite all that dirt and mess and naughtiness, thank God for kids.  I could live in a perfectly clean home, with no clutter and no mess.  But I'd rather be listening to my kids belly laugh, and run around chasing one another in the evenings.  I'd rather have them building forts in the living room, and helping me make meatballs in the kitchen. Regardless of dribbles and grime.<br/><br/>So that's the way it is.  "And we'd all live in a quiet house with-out Big Bird or Mickey Mouse and Kool Aid on the couch...Thank God for kids."<br/><br/>(*Now, had I won the power-ball, the kids would have their own house.  With a maid.)<br/><p style="text-align: center;"> (Listen to Thank God for Kids <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaidWcca1_g">here</a>.)</p><br/><p style="text-align: center;">(Or buy it: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000002T19/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000002T19&linkCode=as2&tag=fymoho-20">Christmas With The Oak Ridge Boys</a>)</p><br/> <br/><br/> 

Thank God for Kids

Note: This is the mushiest post I will ever write. Bear with me, and I will go back to my usual sarcasm tomorrow. *********** Growing up in ...

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Cyber Monday!

<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=as_acph_cc_cm_1125_121?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=ur2&node=5550342011&tag=fymoho-20" target="_blank">Shop Amazon - Cyber Monday Deals Week</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=fymoho-20&l=ur2&o=1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></p><br/>Well it's Cyber Monday.  I'm sure there are billions of deals out there to be had.  I have my shopping list.  And am going to, at some point, check out the prices on pricegrabber, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=ur2&tag=fymoho-20" target="_blank">AMAZON</a>.<br/><br/>If you're a woman, the most difficult people to buy for are:  Dad and Hubby.  Why is it that men (sorry men), are so hard to buy for?  I'll tell you why!  Two weeks before Christmas, men invariably buy the things for themselves that they've been wanting for the past 6 months. Am I right? Or am I right?  (Can I get a high five here?)<br/><br/>Also, men want things we, as women, have no interest in.  I wish I could buy Dad a set of Calaphalon pans.  I could wrap them in a pretty apron adorned with cool set of tea towels. It would be so much easier.  And Big A.  It would be so nice if he wanted a hair straightener and Ionic hair dryer..  Wrapped in a beautiful plush towel with cute hair ties for a ribbon.  Awww.<br/><br/>But unfortunately, that's not the real world.   In reality, I am trying to find the coolest most sought after man toys.  Like a Cordless Power 18 volt Retracting Reciprocating Man Saw, that's also powered by Beer.  Or a 52" Laser Plasma Blue Radon TV with a Remote that also powers the truck, the oven and flushes the toilet.<br/><br/>So, with great pessimism, I dug in to do a little research, and I have found a few man-suitable ideas, which you might find useful for the men in your life.<br/><br/>First I found something that is <em>APPARENTLY</em> very sought after by all men.  It's a Pocket Saw.  I have no idea how this works, and I seriously can not fathom wanting one.  However, I am assured it is a cool gift for outdoorsy types, sporty types and camping types.  It is highly reviewed and only $23.81!<br/><br/><iframe style="width: 120px; height: 240px;" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fymoho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B002EDAUO2&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="320" height="240"></iframe><br/><br/>The next cool present is noise cancelling headphones.  Comfy while you mow the lawn  - and noise cancelling - read:  tune out the wife.<br/><iframe style="width: 120px; height: 240px;" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fymoho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B004Z57YJQ&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="320" height="240"></iframe><br/><br/>Similarly, if you need a little more warmth with your tunes, and comparable wife ignoring capabilities:<br/><iframe style="width: 120px; height: 240px;" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fymoho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0036ZZ6ZK&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="320" height="240"></iframe><br/><br/>Keep your "man hands" warm with these gloves.  Perfect for snowmobiling, skiing, or snowblowing!<br/><br/><iframe style="width: 120px; height: 240px;" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fymoho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B005JI8Y0Q&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="320" height="240"></iframe><br/><br/>I like this laptop bag cuz it's waterproof.  Carry a laptop while riding a bike or camping without taking any chances.<br/><br/><iframe style="width: 120px; height: 240px;" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fymoho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B008ZEEYSM&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="320" height="240"></iframe><br/><br/>Two-way radios.  Two words: man toy.  These are not only useful, they're a toy.  What guy wouldn't want these?  And, to my fair sistas - no need to wander around the basement or yard looking for your man when it's time for dinner - "Come in Big A. Come in Big A. Dinner's ready. Over."<br/><br/><iframe style="width: 120px; height: 240px;" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fymoho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B001WMFYH4&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="320" height="240"></iframe><br/><br/>And now, last but not least.  Every guy needs a Leatherman if he doesn't already have one.  And for those of us who remain easy to buy gifts for, a Leatherman is very handy for us too!<br/><br/><iframe style="width: 120px; height: 240px;" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fymoho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0002H49BC&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="320" height="240"></iframe><br/><br/>So I guess there are a few options out there, without having to search frantically for some outrageously named power tool - there seem to be plenty of original, but cool and useful gifts to choose from!  What have you bought?  Do you have any good ideas?

Cyber Monday!

Shop Amazon - Cyber Monday Deals Week Well it's Cyber Monday.  I'm sure there are billions of deals out there to be had.  I have my ...

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Shopping Tips

I haven't even begun shopping for the holidays, but I guess I should.  'Tis (almost) the season!!!  After all, the Christmas music has begun on many radio stations, and WalMart and Wegman's have their decorations up and out on display.<br /><br />I have, however, been <em>thinking</em> about shopping, and I'll share the details of my thoughts with you...  No problem, my brain hurts anyway.<br /><br />I do use <a href="http://www.amazon.com/">Amazon.com </a>all the time for gift shopping, for my kindle purchases, and to research customer reviews of products (whether I'm buying from Amazon or not).  For those of you who do too, there are two things you may not be aware of that I hope will help make your shopping "trips" easier.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, I like shopping in actual <em>SHOPS</em> as much as the next gal.  However, there's something pretty satisfying about ordering on line, after confirming the product is well-reviewed, and then having it shipped - for free!<br /><br />An<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/prime/signup/videos/ref=nav_menu"> Amazon Prime </a>membership is absolutely worth looking into, and will only cost you $79 per year. You can start with a one-month free trial, or if you're a student or a parent, the Amazon Student and Amazon Mom programs offer other benefits - such as free books, and discounts on diapers!<br /><br />One membership can be shared with up to four additional people, so you and your family members can all receive the membership for one fee.<br /><br />Basically, you get <em><strong>free two-day shipping </strong></em>and $3.99 one-day shipping on eligible orders.  And, it doesn't matter how large the items are, the shipping is free. Furthermore, with prime membership, you get free video streaming - either to your laptop, tablet, or your TV.  So, not only do you save with shipping, you save for movies (The other movie rental companies cost about $90 a year).  For me, this was a no-brainer.  The video streaming alone is cheaper than the other movie rental companies, and the free shipping can't be beat.  PLUS, you get a free ebook rental per month, and discounts on ebooks.<br /><br />When you shop, you may have noticed that <a href="http://www.amazon.com/">Amazon </a>will randomly drop their prices.  Sometimes by A LOT.  A sofa can go down from $2000 to $800 overnight.  It's frustrating to think that if you want to buy something from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/">amazon </a>you might miss a price drop.  But there's a solution.  Here's my second tip - go to <a href="http://chintzee.com/">Chintzee</a>. You just type in the item number you are looking for and you will get an email alert when the price drops.<br /><br />Pretty cool, huh?  Do you have any shopping tips for the upcoming holidays?  I would love to hear them!<br /><br />Happy shopping!<br /><br /><br /><br />

Shopping Tips

I haven't even begun shopping for the holidays, but I guess I should.  'Tis (almost) the season!!!  After all, the Christmas music h...

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Creating a Kitchen

<address>As I was puttering in the kitchen last night, putting together a rather large lasagna, and using every surface and pan I could manage to dirty, I got thinking about the way we built our kitchen and how it works for us.  We don't have any fancy add-ons in our kitchen, like an <em>under cabinet built-in espresso machine</em>, but I love our kitchen and how it functions for our family.</address>The placement of the stove/oven, sink and fridge were key to our new kitchen. For maximum efficiency in <em>any</em> kitchen, they should ideally be placed in a triangle formation so you can easily move between the three areas. Furthermore, consider whether you want to mount your microwave over the stove top or use a counter top model. For us, a mounted large microwave means more counter space for <del>clutter</del> food prep.<br/><br/>Speaking of food prep, we wanted a large island, not only for extra seating, and prep space, but also for the extra storage underneath.  It's usually advisable for a kitchen island to be no larger than 48" across.  It's just easier to clean it that way.  However, we wanted a lot of storage, and chose to go with 56".  Yes, it's a little harder to wipe down in the middle, but I find with the mottled counter top color we chose, you barely notice the dust.  Only joking!  (Not really though.)<br/><br/>It was important for us to have enough counter top space for every day appliances like the coffeemaker and toaster. For the appliances we use less frequently, such the mixer, sandwich maker, and blender we added a large corner cabinet to store them for easy access. In addition, we added a Lazy Susan cabinet beneath the corner cabinet unit for Tupperware, glass bowls, etc.<br/><br/>We had a pullout double trash installed. Super handy, and no free-standing trash bins in the cupboard or tucked in a corner.  We use one bin for trash and the other for bottles and cans.  <em>Or, that's in theory anyway.  Our kids seem to think the coffee table is a suitable receptacle for soda cans...</em><br/><br/>A cabinet in the island with tray dividers, is the one option that makes me most happy. Most people get happy about babies and Christmas, but I guess I like the little things.  Rather than having to crouch down to a cabinet and pull a cookie sheet out from under 12 muffin tins, 2 cutting boards, and a slew of pan lids, the divider keeps all of these things neat and tidy.<br/><br/>A couple of DEEP drawers are perfect for odd shaped tupperware, large boxes of trash bags, and miscellaneous items.  If I ever get super organized I may even make one into this snack station (picture from VTMommies):<br/><br/><a href="http://www.vtmommies.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/SnackStation.jpg"><img alt="Snack Station" height="541" src="http://www.vtmommies.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/SnackStation.jpg" title="Snack Station" width="960" /></a><br/><br/>Our large pantry also makes me giddy - not as happy as the tray divider cabinet, but pretty close.  It's a work in progress and needs some standing dividers to layer all of our dry and canned goods, dog food etc.  But it's nice having all of those dry goods in one place.  The upper shelves are particularly useful for storing the small appliances that don't get a lot of use, like our crock pots, rotisserie, lobster pots, etc.  It's also handy for <del>hiding things from the kids</del> storing special treats.<br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_569" align="aligncenter" width="284"]<a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/DSC_0175.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-569" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/DSC_0175-284x300.jpg" title="DSC_0175" width="284" /></a> Special Treats "stored" on top shelf[/caption]<br/><br/>Last but not least, good lighting adds character and function to a kitchen.  I like the kitchen bright when I'm cooking or trying to read.  But I love the option of turning down the lights when I want some ambiance, or have company over. We have pendant lighting above our island, which makes a big difference when you just want to relax and read the news (or the Dear Abby section, if I'm being totally honest).  Canned lights make it very bright over all of the counter tops for cooking and cleaning.  But one place I'm glad we didn't neglect, is task lighting underneath kitchen cabinets.  It adds light to your work surface, <em>OR</em> if you use those lights alone, it gives off a nice warm glow under the cabinets.<br/><br/>So that's it for me.  I've gotta go check my pantry hasn't been raided since writing this.  I could use a special treat right about now.<br/><br/>What do you love or hate about your kitchen?  What would you want in your dream kitchen?

Creating a Kitchen

As I was puttering in the kitchen last night, putting together a rather large lasagna, and using every surface and pan I could manage to dir...

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Fall friendly advice

Hello!  Just FYI - in general, I don't like being practical, and some would argue that I am <strong>NOT</strong> very practical, but, nevertheless, it's time for some very practical home advice.  Can I say practical again? Annoying isn't it?<br/><br/>Yes, I'm grumpy that summer is coming to a close.  But, at least it's a little cooler at this time of year, it's in the 70's and 80's right now (as opposed to 90 or 100 just a few weeks ago).  And although we're still in shorts, it's cool enough to tackle some household chores in the next few weeks, to get ready for the cold weather. Dare I say, it's time to <em>winterize</em>?  Shudder.<br/><br/>Even in a new home, you need to take some time to get ready for whatever winter is going to hand us.  And, although I'd rather be splashing in the lake, or sitting by the camp fire, there are lots of things I'm going to be taking care of in our home and yard. Yup, winterizing.  The effort I put in this fall, will save money and time in the spring.  And give me more time and money next summer for lakes, boats and fires.<br/><br/><strong>Insulation.</strong><br/><br/>Attics require 12 inches insulation.  Without it, it's the same as leaving the front door open. A good rule of thumb is, if you can see the joists or rafters, you need more.  When we built our modular home, the upstairs was unfinished.  We <em>(I mean Big A - I drank coffee)</em> put in about 15" of insulation just to be extra certain we weren't going to allow our heat to escape through the second floor.<br/><br/><strong>Storm windows.</strong><br/><br/>If you have you have single pane glass windows, you could replace the windows, but for a fraction of the cost you could install storms.  Installation is fairly simple, and you could reduce the amount of heat lost out of your windows by 40%!  Uh, that's a no-brainer, right?!<br/><br/><strong>Gutters.</strong><br/><br/>Cleaning the gutters to keep them free of leaves and pine needles, is a nasty business, but it'll keep snow and rain off of the roof. You don't need roof damage!  Furthermore, clean and properly aligned gutters make sure the down spouts take the water away from the house, so you don't get damage to the rest of your home.<br/><br/><strong>Leaks.</strong><br/><br/>A drafty home is not good for your heating bill.  Before it's 5 degrees below, walk around the house on a windy day, and find the drafts.   Pay special attention to door and window frames, electrical outlets and recessed lighting. You can stop door drafts with door sweeps, weather stripping and caulk.  Similarly caulk around leaky windows and outlets.<br/><br/><strong>Furnace.</strong><br/><br/>Turn the furnace on to make sure its working.  The first run may produce a dusty smell, but that's fine and should disperse soon.  If not, have the furnace checked out.  Last week, by accident the furnace was turned on, and although it was not on purpose, not only were we <del>baked to death</del> nice and toasty, I smelled that distinctive smell, and knew our furnace is in working order.   Before you use your furnace, replace filters to keep it running efficiently.<br/><br/><em>(Note: allot extra time for your trip to Home Depot for the filters - it takes <del>me</del> at least 30 minutes to find the filter aisle, and 30 more to find the right size filter!)</em><br/><br/><strong>Leaves.</strong><br/><br/>Remove fallen leaves from around your yard.  By "remove fallen leaves", I mean rake.  Raking produces blisters, herniated discs, and sometimes head trauma (don't ask).  BUT, it's good for your lawn.  And although I dread raking leaves in the Fall, I dread raking dead wet leaves that are stuck to the ground like cement in the Spring, even more!<br/><br/><strong>Lawn.</strong><br/><br/>Cut the grass short before the first frost.  Long grass can bend and trap moisture in your lawn, which can cause mold. Eww.<br/><br/>If you do anything else in the fall to get ready for winter, let me know!  I'm all in for saving on the heating bill, and having more free time in the Spring and Summer!<br/><br/> 

Fall friendly advice

Hello!  Just FYI - in general, I don't like being practical, and some would argue that I am NOT very practical, but, nevertheless, it...

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531 words about Not Much

I'm sitting here trying to figure out what to write about, because, frankly, for the last few <del>weeks</del> days it's been all about spending time with the kids cuz they're back to school soon.  Instead of me getting some work done at home, we've been here:<br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_434" align="aligncenter" width="300"]<a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC_0152.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-434" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC_0152-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0152" width="300" /></a> Owasco Lake, NY[/caption]<br/><br/> <br/><br/>I haven't accomplished much at all around the house, and don't have any pictures of finished DIY projects.  The good thing is, I'm aware of my faults, and I admit I have the unfortunate personality trait of starting one thing, getting distracted, moving on, starting another, etc.  So, although we haven't even been home much, being true to myself, I've made several starts on some DIY this week.<br/><br/><em>I'm going to show you, because: a.) I feel guilty, and want to come clean, and b.) I think I'm secretly hoping someone will pay for me to go to counselling.</em>  <em>There's probably a fancy word for what I have, like, "Distractivitis Flutterbrain". </em><br/><br/>Anyway, without further ado, here's what I'm working on (or <em>NOT</em> as the case may be!) :<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC_0221.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-435" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC_0221-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0221" width="300" /></a><br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC_0222.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-436" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC_0222-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0222" width="300" /></a><br/><br/>The picnic table is new, and I (we) did manage to stain it, as well as spray paint the wrought iron set.  However, I still have yet to do anything else with them with regards to decorating them.  I gave a half hearted browse around a dollar store for some outdoor tablecloths and/or outdoor vases etc.  However, that's as far as I got.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC_0226.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-439" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC_0226-199x300.jpg" title="DSC_0226" width="199" /></a><br/><br/>The above is a picture of a small corner of the garden.  You know, if you think about it, when that grass gets high enough, you won't even know it's not meant to be there.  Right!?   Okay, well, maybe that doesn't make sense.  Yes, I said Big A had helped weed, and we got quite a bit done.  However, we didn't finish, and now the weeds are baaaack.  The garden weasel was brooooken.  And we didn't buy any muuuulch.  SO, there's thaaaat.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC_0223.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-437" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC_0223-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0223" width="300" /></a><br/><br/><address>Oh, and this is a goody (above)!  These are kitchen towels, that I found at the dollar store.  See, I got something done that day!  I want to make outdoor cushions for the tables, using the towels.  However, I forgot to get fabric glue, and the towels now sit on my kitchen counter.  (I'm sure the kids have been wiping their hands on them.  The nerve!!!)</address><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC_0225.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-438" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC_0225-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0225" width="300" /></a><br/><br/>A big favorite of Big A's!  I'm saving toilet paper rolls.  I keep trying to explain to him that there are tons of toilet paper tube art ideas out there!  He won't even google it!  <em>Men! </em><br/><br/> <br/><br/>Below is one of the kitchen chairs.  Budget permitting we are buying a high top kitchen table to replace my current table and chairs.  However, so far the budget isn't budging, and I have to <del>put up with</del> embrace the current set up.  I have the plastic sheeting set up in the back yard, but as yet, no one's spotted me out there painting.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC_0227.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-440" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC_0227-199x300.jpg" title="DSC_0227" width="199" /></a>So, as you can see, I'm very busy at beginning lots of things, but completing nothing.  However, I like to look on the bright side - at least I'll have <em>LOTS</em> to write about when the kids go back to school!

531 words about Not Much

I'm sitting here trying to figure out what to write about, because, frankly, for the last few weeks days it's been all about spendi...

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Say hello to my little friend

<a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC_0134.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-431" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSC_0134-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0134" width="300" /></a><br/><br/>Yes I'm referencing "Scarface" in my title with Dawn Dish Liquid.  Cuz I can.<br/><br/>This is going to be a quick note to tell you how excited I am about my new tub and shower cleaner!  (Little things make me happy.)  I got this "recipe" from food.com, and it works!<br/><br/><strong>Shower Cleaner Recipe:</strong><br/><br/>1 cup white vinegar<br/><br/>1 cup blue dawn dish liquid<br/><br/>Heat the cup of vinegar in the microwave for 2 minutes.  While warm, add the cup of Dawn and mix.  Pour into a spray bottle (I just used an empty Windex bottle).<br/><br/>Spray all over shower or tub and let sit for an hour.  Wipe clean.  You won't believe how sparkly and clean your shower will be!  Seriously.  :-)<br/><br/> 

Say hello to my little friend

Yes I'm referencing "Scarface" in my title with Dawn Dish Liquid.  Cuz I can. This is going to be a quick note to tell you how...

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We're baaaaack!

Hello there!  We're home, having had an awesome camping trip!  It was a wonderful couple of weeks, but it's great to be back!<br/><br/>However, I have a confession.  While we were away, I didn't use the right protection, or take the proper precautions, and now I have... <em><strong>WEEDS</strong></em>.  Nope, we didn't put mulch down after we planted our garden (waiting for a sale, or to win the lottery or something), and now the garden looks more like a field.<br/><br/>Lucky for me, Big A bought me a "Garden Weasel" a while back!  So, while I weasel in the garden, I will think about how I can at least help you not end up in a similar unfortunate predicament.

We're baaaaack!

Hello there!  We're home, having had an awesome camping trip!  It was a wonderful couple of weeks, but it's great to be back! Howeve...

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Here's your towel, get out of the dishwasher.

Hello there!  This morning I was thinking about my appliances.  I know, things aren't very exciting in my life right now!<br/><br/>When you build your modular home, one of the things you are going to pick out is an appliance package, assuming you don't have appliances you want to move with you. We happened to have all stainless steel appliances that we were going to move with us. However, Ritz-Craft, the builder of our home, offered such a good deal on the new appliances, we couldn't pass it up.<br/><br/>Our stainless appliances were beautiful. But quite frankly, although we loved the look of the stainless, it took a lot of work to keep it looking good.  For the majority of the time they looked more like a cloudy mirror with finger prints and dog nose smears all over them.  If anything dried on it (like a lil blob of ketchup), I had to channel the strength of the Incredible Hulk to get it off.  I know some people swear by stainless, and that it's easy to clean.  Maybe, but did they have 5 kids and a dog?<br/><br/>Plus, because we could sell the old house with appliances included, it was better for our asking price.<br/><br/>Anyway, in the end, I'm glad we went with the package offered to us - in black - easier to clean, and doesn't show the grime and slime as much!  Plus the black matches the paint of our distressed black kitchen island.  It's a win-win!<br/><br/>Now, as you may have guessed, I am no expert on kitchen appliances, but I do have a couple of thoughts on picking them out (which probably will not land me a job in the appliance section of Home Depot):<br/><br/><em><strong>Dishwasher:</strong></em>  They have all kinds of upgraded dishwashers now.  I'm pretty sure I saw an expensive model that had a "warm bath" setting for the kids, and a button that said: "steam lobsters to perfection".  However, our dishwasher is the no bells and whistles kind.  It may not have clever settings, but it gets the job done well, and <em>FAST</em>.  I mean like 30 minutes and it's done.  Plus, no pre-rinsing, and it gets pots and pans and casserole dishes clean.  (<em>Disclaimer</em>:  it will not get peanut butter off a knife, no matter what. But I'm pretty sure that's not just me. That makes me think... if the dishwasher can't get rid of PB, then how does your stomach?)<br/><br/><strong><em>Refrigerator/Freezer. </em></strong> We have the side by side frige/freezer.  When we moved in we thought we'd never have enough room in the refrigerator.  After all, we have a house full.  <em>BUT</em>, upon deep reflection, I realize it's not to bad.  The shelves in the doors are wide and hold all of my condiments.  (I'm not talking ketchup and mustard and a bottle of dressing.  I'm talking <em>I have a lil problem with buying every condiment known in the Western World. </em> See:<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/DSC_0052.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-388" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/DSC_0052-199x300.jpg" title="DSC_0052" width="199" /></a><br/><br/>(And that's only 3 of 6 shelves.)<br/><br/>Also, the shelves in the fridge are deep, so you can pack a lot of food and drinks.  A 12 pack of <del>beer</del> soda fits right in there.<br/><br/>The freezer, however, is another story.  I admit, I don't have a lot of extra room.  We buy a lot of meat in bulk, but luckily (is that a word?), we do have an extra upright freezer in the basement where I keep club packs of meat, pizza, etc.  Just something to think about if you tend to need a big freezer, you may want to consider a different style.<br/><br/><strong><em>Oven</em></strong>.  Here's my thought.  Big fancy ovens like this from dreamstoves.com<br/><br/><img alt="" height="581" id="il_fi" src="http://www.hewnandhammered.com/photos/uncategorized/55__1red_.jpg" width="528" /><br/><br/>look super cool!  And I want one!  But I can't afford one.  And, unless you can afford it, why spend extra, cuz in general how much do you need?  I mean, I was a caterer, and I managed just fine with a plain old oven!  I'd set the temp, pre-heat, put the food in, and cook.  Presto!  The best thing about my current oven is that it pre-heats really fast, so that's handy, and makes me happy.<br/><br/><strong><em>Stove top</em></strong>.  I have a large enough stove top.  But for holidays and big parties, I would like 6 burners - maybe some day.<br/><br/><strong><em>Microwave.</em></strong>  Well this is where we ended up with the king tut of microwaves.  It can do almost everything.  It bakes and roasts, has convection (whatever that is), and you can put metal in it.  It also has the following buttons:  steam, simmer, kids meals, baked potato, filet mignon with a red wine sauce (just joking on the filet) ....  <em>Whatever</em>.  I just use it to heat stuff up, mainly my coffee!<br/><br/>So there you have my expert opinion on  kitchen appliances.  Sears and Home Depot, if you're reading this, I'm sorry - I would make a terrible sales person!<br/><br/>Oh, one more thing: you should buy appliances with energy star - for the planet, and for you and your wallet!  For more info, go <a href=" http://blog.epa.gov/energystar/">here</a>.<br/><br/>And, and one last thing (really!), please check out Ritz-Craft and the appliance packages they offer <a href="http://www.ritz-craft.com/options/appliance-guide-literature/page.aspx?id=1426">here</a>.  While you're on their website, check out the rest of their info!  (I love my new home and want to give credit, where credit is due!)<br/><br/> 

Here's your towel, get out of the dishwasher.

Hello there!  This morning I was thinking about my appliances.  I know, things aren't very exciting in my life right now! When you build...

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Trash it for cash

My kids are away on vacation, and although I miss them terribly, I'm taking this opportunity to clean out the basement.  When we moved into our new house, we brought with us <del>a hundred</del>  a few boxes of toys, electronics, books, etc., that never got unpacked, and now sit taking up half of our new basement.  Turning that clutter to cash is something I should have done long before we moved.  <em>Ya think?! </em> So I'm posting about it here, in case you are less scatterbrained than me, and do things in the right order.<br/><br/>However before I tackle sorting through the boxes, I've been doing some research on how to possibly make some cash on these things, before we make a trip to the dump.  In looking around I realize lots of the toys are just outgrown, not broken.  We have billions of electronics that have either been upgraded, or duplicated.  Old snowsuits, boots, etc.  You get my drift.<br/><br/>I have had garage sales, and they take <em>a lot</em> of work, so with too much on my plate at the moment, I'm not doing that again!  At least not this year... So here are a few ideas I've seen:<br/><br/><strong>Electronics.</strong>  NextWorth.com and Gazelle.com buy back old cell phones, cameras and laptops in stores such as Target and Radio Shack.  The stores usually give you a store credit.  I personally looooove Target, so credit would work for me!  Alternatively, you can go to buymytronics.com or sellcell.com for estimates if you prefer cash.  Just log on to get an estimate.<br/><br/><strong>CDs and DVDs. </strong> Musical tastes change and we have lots of duplicate DVDs.  Not to mention, we don't really use either anymore, since we all have ipods or netflix!  Try secondspin.com and see what kind of prices you can get for your used (or unused) CDs and DVDs.<br/><br/><strong>Appliances.</strong> If they still work, washers, dryers and refrigerators can be sold on craigslist.org. I like craigslist because, unlike ebay, you can usually arrange for someone to pick up the appliance too, so its saves you any hassle.<br/><br/><strong>Furniture.</strong> Same with appliances, if they're in fairly decent condition, you'd be surprised at how fast you can sell furniture on craigslist.<br/><br/><strong>Clothes. </strong> Contact a local consignment shop.  You can sometimes earn up to 60% of what the shop makes on your cast-offs.<br/><br/><strong>Books. </strong> A used bookstore will pay up to 1$ per paperback if it's in good condition.  Over the years, we have collected tons of paperbacks which now sit in various boxes in the basement.<br/><br/><strong>Toys.</strong> You can sell larger toys separately, or group similar smaller toys.  Just list them on craigslist.  However, as all Moms know, this is has to be a covert operation!  Kids never want to get rid of any of their stuff, no matter how old it is, or how long it's gone unused.  Thus, I'm doing this clean-out while my kids are away!  Is that mean? Maybe, but it's either that or we are going to end up featured on "Hoarders" in a couple of years.<br/><br/>Of course your going to want to make sure anything you sell is clean, and looks as presentable as possible.  We sold some wicker chairs which had been used as a scratching post by our darling kitty, and that were dusty from a year in a storage bin.  But, one mans trash is another mans treasure.  All we did was hose them off and give them a quick coat of polyurethane to cover some of the scratches.  They sold on craigslist after 3 days.<br/><br/>So I'm going to try my hand at selling some things, and whatever is leftover, depending on it's condition, will either be donated to The Salvation Army or taken to the dump.<br/><br/>I'll keep you posted on my progress - and whether I make enough money to either<br/><br/>a.) go on a cruise,  b.) go out to dinner, or c.) buy a cup of coffee...<br/><br/>If anyone has any other good sites or stores that turn clutter to cash, please let me know!

Trash it for cash

My kids are away on vacation, and although I miss them terribly, I'm taking this opportunity to clean out the basement.  When we moved i...

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Someday is NOT a day of the week

I tend to channel my inner Scarlett O'Hara, particularly when I don't want to do something.  I say to myself, "I'll think about that another day".  However, with a large to-do list and a house load of chores to do, more often than not, I really need to channel my inner NIKE ad exec, and<em> just do it.</em><br/><br/>That being said, there are some times you just need to get things done and you have to resort to alternative methods to <em>get some help</em>.  I'm not suggesting it's going to be easy, especially if you have teenagers, but here are a few ideas you may want to try out:<br/><br/><address><strong>Procrastinate</strong>.  Do you ever feel as if you are the only person in your house who knows how to load the dishwasher, or do a load of laundry?  Well, stop doing it for several days and let everything pile up.  Eventually someone will take the hint and load it, right?  (Uh, well this is actually <em>WRONG!</em>  If you or your significant other don't do it, no one will, so just bite the bullet and do it yourself.)</address><strong>Buy ice cream</strong>.  This is only effective on very small people, particularly those under 6 years old.  If you have tiny people living in your home, you can bribe them with ice cream to help or do small chores.<br/><br/><strong>Fail miserably</strong>.  If you do something badly enough, enough times, you will find you will not be asked to do it again.  My teenage daughter is particularly good at this tactic, so I'm thinking of how to turn the tables on her!<br/><br/><strong>Get sick</strong>.  Although this is a bit drastic, a house full of kids all managed to get themselves meals, and keep the house relatively clean when I had the mother-of-all summer colds.  Did I detect sympathy in their eyes?  Either way, stuff got done!<br/><br/><strong>Win the lottery</strong>. Nothing makes better sense - win big and you can hire someone to do chores.  If it makes you feel better, you can call this strategy "outsourcing" or "delegating".<br/><br/>Well I hope that was helpful!  Unfortunately, it seems my garden isn't going to water itself, and the lawn furniture isn't going paint itself either.   So despite all of these extremely useful suggestions, I think I'll just double up on my B vitamins, have another cup of coffee, and get moving.<br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> 

Someday is NOT a day of the week

I tend to channel my inner Scarlett O'Hara, particularly when I don't want to do something.  I say to myself, "I'll think a...

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Play, but play it safe!

It's almost the 4th of July, and that means fireworks, bonfires, and partying.  I'm just gonna get this over with and be a huge downer here... Unfortunately, those fireworks mean the potential for house fires.  So<em>, listen up!  And then I promise to post something FUN! </em><br/><br/>Our modular home came wired for smoke detectors in every room, including the basement.  When one detector goes off, all of the detectors in the house go off, which is, well, <em>alarming</em>, and very loud!  But that's what we want - my husband is a fire fighter, and so, we get a little freaked out about house fires.   It's scary to think about 2/3 of house fires happen where the home did not have working smoke detectors.  You need to have working alarms in each bedroom and in living areas. Carbon monoxide and smoke detection combination alarms are best, but are especially necessary in the basement.<br/><br/>You should test your existing detectors every year.   If your current smoke alarm is "chirping" that means it needs a new battery.  If you don't notice any chirping, you still need to test your alarms - just press the center button until the alarm sounds. If it sounds, your alarm is functioning properly. If it doesn't, change the battery. If you change the battery and it still doesn't work, you need a new smoke detector.<br/><br/>If you don't have your house wired for the smoke detectors, you can use battery powered smoke alarms.  (I got an email today that Amazon is having a sale on the combination alarms at $21.75, which is a <em>HUGE</em> savings. I've put a link to the alarms - on the right - if you are interested. These alarms have a high rating <em>and</em> are on sale for a fraction of the normal price.)<br/><br/>So with the 4th of July right around the corner, fireworks and bonfires coming up, please play it safe and make sure either your current alarms are working, or buy new working alarms.<br/><br/>Okay, lecture over.  :-)<br/><br/> 

Play, but play it safe!

It's almost the 4th of July, and that means fireworks, bonfires, and partying.  I'm just gonna get this over with and be a huge down...

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Pressure Washers

I got thinking about Pressure Washers, as one does, and they really are useful, and not too expensive.  When you own a home, there are a lot of time saving uses for one.  Now, I'll confess, it's usually my husband who uses ours, cuz, frankly, our power washer is too heavy for me to lug around.  But if my man gets it out of the basement and brings it to me, I'll happily find a use for it...<br/><br/><img alt="" data-height="194" data-width="259" height="194" id="rg_hi" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQMtcxjaCJnLLJ9LIR4hob5ACtyvWtV0v4atBf0KHo-QOsz10py" width="259" /><br/><br/>Now, they're a power tool, even if you don't picture them as a some manly jack-hammer or something.  And, because they're a power tool, they can be dangerous.  One does have to be safe when using them.  The water comes out very fast and it can harm soft materials, like your body!  Don't get your foot or hand in the way!  And don't be tempted to wash the dog with it!  Similarly, use caution on car decals, or molding on the house, etc.  And, best to wear safety glasses.<br/><br/>Here's just a few of the uses for a pressure washer:<br/><br/>Wash the car or boat.  Or maybe you have a jet.. You can use the pressure washer to rinse off, then suds it up, and rinse off again.  But, as mentioned, be cautious if you have any decals on your car (or jet).<br/><br/>Power wash the drive way or side walk.  The water pressure will further damage weak concrete, so be careful.<br/><br/>Decks and porches.  Over time, wood decks and porches tend to get a dull grey look to them.  The pressure washer washes that away so you're ready to stain, or treat the wood.  Similarly, you can remove old paint from porches, or steps.<br/><br/>Lawn or patio furniture can be pressure washed. Although I wouldn't advise this with wicker - you may end up with pile of wet kindling.<br/><br/>You can wash your siding.  Just be sure to be careful around moldings and glass.<br/><br/>Use the pressure washer to clean out your mower deck.  My husband thinks this is very cool, although I have to admit, I can't fathom why you would want a clean mower deck!  (This falls under my category "Whatever makes you happy honey".)<br/><br/>Rinse away grime from your BBQ grill grates.  Do you know that the BBQ instruction book instructs one to clean the BBQ after every use?  I don't know about you, but I just close the lid when I'm done cooking and burn it off for a minute or two.  I always thought that would suffice, but when you take those grates off, they're in need of some serious cleaning.<br/><br/>Power washing is perfect for cleaning the garage floor (assuming you can<em> get to</em> the garage floor!).<br/><br/>Speaking of floors, I actually used the pressure washer to clean an area rug when our cat had an unfortunate stomach problem.  I really couldn't face cleaning the rug with my hands, and the pressure washer was all hooked up in the driveway...  I just took the rug outside and blasted it with the power washer, sprayed it with Resolve, washed it again, and hung it to dry in the breeze.   Way better than the alternative!<br/><br/>Anyway, in my humble opinion, pressure washers are a pretty cool tool to have around the house!<br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> 

Pressure Washers

I got thinking about Pressure Washers, as one does, and they really are useful, and not too expensive.  When you own a home, there are a lot...

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Painting

When you build your new modular home, your dealer will be back in one year to check on your home, and because of the house settling, they will fill in any cracks in the walls or ceiling.  They will ask you to wait that year before you paint, so that you don't have to re-paint where the cracks have been filled.  Houses settle, and new houses settle a lot.<br/><br/>I was sitting in our living room one day, about a month after living in our home I noticed a big line across the ceiling. Of course being all house proud and surrounded with the comfort and bliss of my new home, I was shocked and horrified!  But no need to worry, the builders will fill that.  However, this exactly why they suggest you don't paint.  You're gonna have to paint over the filled in cracks.<br/><br/>We couldn't live without any color on the walls for a year, so we decided it would be worth it to paint before we moved in, and just touch up after the inevitable settling.  It's really no big deal - we've had to touch up the paint around the house all of our lives. Paint gets dingy and scratched and cracks appear all the time.  All it takes is a little fresh paint and about 15 minutes of your time to touch up.  Just remember to save your left over paint, and save the paint chips, and label which room they belong to so that you can always get a (nearly) perfect match for patching up.   I have a kitchen drawer that has all of my paintchips, labeled, and neatly stored.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0001.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-175" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0001-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0001" width="300" /></a>Okay so I exaggerated when I said "neatly stored", but I know where they are if I need them!  See them there on the left?  I just write on them which room they belong to, and keep them there in a pile, next to the binoculars and Christmas ribbon!<br/><br/>Personally, I want, need, loooove color on my walls.  If you want all white or monochrome, I think that looks awesome too, but it's not for me.<br/><br/>I specifically have a thing for yellows, golds, and brown, with hints of maroon.  I love sunsets.  Think about the colors you wear, think about a favorite curtain pattern or throw pillow.  What are the colors you gravitate towards?  Of course, you need to go light if you don't have a lot of natural light, and you want it bright.  Go warm if you have tons of light and want your home to seem more cozy.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00081.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-177" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00081-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0008" width="300" /></a><br/><br/>Sunset picture inspires my color choices.<br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/>And here are two pillows - I'm not particularly fond of the patterns, but the colors are my colors.  I wanted my wall colors to match these pillows.  It sounds goofy, but it's true -  go for colors that you love having around you.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00061.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-178" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00061-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0006" width="300" /></a><br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0005.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-179" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0005-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0005" width="300" /></a><br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Next, armed with your favorite color pillow, shirt, painting, etc... go to your home store of choice.  When it comes to picking paint, you'll no doubt be advised to look at the color wheel. Is it me, or is that thing totally overwhelming?  Doesn't it seem too much like hard work?  Well, it does to me.  So rather than tangle with the color wheel, just grab the paint chips that tickle your fancy (those little pieces of cardboard with all the examples of color on them) and stuff 'em in your purse.  They're free!  I like to choose the larger square pieces with one color, rather than the strips with 5 colors per strip.<br/><br/>I usually choose chips that match my colors, then grab lots of the same color, although in slightly different shades.  Take them home and carry them around to each room, because those small variances in shade and hue, look different in all rooms, and at different times of the day.  I once chose a beautiful medium gray for my old dining room and painted the whole room before I waited for the light to change or really let the color grow on me.  It was a lovely gray, until the light changed in that room, and then the paint (and my whole dining room) was no longer grey, it was purple!  Not quite ugly, but definitely NOT what I'd had in mind!<br/><br/>So once you've looked at all the colors in each room, you'll definitely have narrowed it down.<br/><br/>If I'm selecting different colors for each room, I want my colors to <em>flow</em> from one room to the next.  You want the color in the kitchen to go with the color in the dining room, and with the color in the halls... Think about this:  take the colors you like for your various rooms and put them all together on a white piece of paper, would they make a nice color combination for a curtain or a throw pillow? If they all go together nicely, your rooms will flow.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00091.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-181" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00091-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0009" width="300" /></a><br/><br/>(In the above picture, you can see I have two gold/yellow tones. That white strip of ceiling where you can see a recessed light, will be a reddish/maroon color eventually.)<br/><br/>* Note: kids bedrooms are different.  I believe in letting them have their own space and choosing their own colors, no matter how awful you think those colors are.  As I mentioned my affinity for sunset colors, my kids have completely different tastes. Our kids have bedrooms in electric blue, frog green, denim blue...  Our only rule was the flooring had to be our choice (a neutral gray carpet), and they could choose any paint they wanted.  After all, it's their space, and walls are easy enough to change.  While their rooms are now electric hews, with Eminem and David Beckham posters, I just close their bedroom doors and go to my happy place.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0011.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-180" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0011-199x300.jpg" title="DSC_0011" width="199" /></a>This is a happy place...<br/><br/> 

Painting

When you build your new modular home, your dealer will be back in one year to check on your home, and because of the house settling, they wi...

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Porch Railings...

Day two of staining the porch railings on our new modular home, and it is coming along.  After two full days of work, with the stain scented wind in my hair, and bees around my ankles, I think I have finally cracked the code to painting quickly and efficiently.<br/><br/>I had to cover the composite decking, because I do not want to have to deal with cleaning stain droplets off of the deck floor.  So I bought 4 large plastic sheets from Home Depot, which set me back all of $4.  I taped the plastic down and got to work.<br/><br/><em>Not so fast!</em>  It was windy and the plastic was paper thin.  You can probably imagine the wind blew the flimsy plastic, slapping it into the wet stain, and then wrapping it around my bare calves, thus staining my legs.  <em>Not</em> what I call a good look for summer. And not my finest hour.<br/><br/>To add insult to injury, I inevitably dripped stain on the plastic, and managed to step in it every time.  Then worried about tracking it around and had to constantly check the bottom of my flip-flop. This clearly wasn't gonna work.<br/><br/>So I rummaged around in the basement and found a large piece of cloth.  My first thought was the stain will bleed right though it to the flooring. Despite my worry, I folded the cloth into a 3 ft long square and placed it under the railing where I was working, moving it as I went.  This worked much better.  It was heavy enough that it didn't blow in the wind, and there were not wet drip marks to step in!<br/><br/>So, my advice is: save yourself $4.  Wahoo!  Just enough for a RedBull! (I hate them, but you're gonna need one!)<br/><br/>Regardless of your drop cloth, staining is sloooow going.  If you have wooden balusters and they're turned, as opposed to smooth, I feel for you!  Here's my advice:  choose smooth balusters if you're going to end up staining them.  Better yet, choose plastic so you don't have to stain them at all!  Only joking!  But for two days I can tell you I was thinking "<em>Curse choosing the turned spindles!</em>", only the version in my head had some more colorful words in it...<br/><br/>Here's what I advise for staining, provided you have turned balusters:<br/><br/>The porch posts are the easy part.  The surface is larger and smoother. The porch posts or columns extend from the porch ceiling to the floor of the porch and support the porch roof.  To stain the porch posts I used a 2" foam brush.  This seemed to work well, and foam brushes are so cheap you can use as many as you need.<br/><br/>The turned balusters are a serious snore-fest to stain. Balusters are usually 36 inches tall and are offered in different widths and styles. We have a <em>turned</em> baluster, which means more nooks and crannies than an English muffin, to paint in.  Balusters are placed between top railings and the bottom rail and are usually spaced 4 inches apart.  What that means is: even if you have a small porch, you'll still <em>LOTS</em> off balusters to stain!  *Caution: May cause marked drowsiness and irritability.<br/><br/>So, the posts go pretty quickly.  But if you get stuck, I mean, volunteer to stain the balusters, like I did, here's the fastest way I found to get it done:<br/><br/>Start by using a 1" foam brush.  Get the brush wet in the stain, but not dripping wet.  Squish it into all of the nooks in the turns first.  Don't worry if it's a little thick, you can even it out after.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00031.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-162" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00031-199x300.jpg" title="DSC_0003" width="199" /></a>Then slather the stain from the top down, like you're slathering on BBQ sauce, and even out any drips.  Just make sure you get a <em>good cover</em>.  But within reason...<br/><br/>It's really easy to be a perfectionist and get caught up in going over every little tiny weeny crack and bump on the wood.  Don't bother!  Just put the stain on fairly thick, even it out and keep moving.  I did an experiment and stained several of the balustrads really, really carefully, and a couple the fast, efficient way. Guess what?   Can't tell the difference when they're dry!<br/><br/> <br/><br/>Well that's it for staining the porch railings.  And one thing off my "to do list".  Only 19 to go!

Porch Railings...

Day two of staining the porch railings on our new modular home, and it is coming along.  After two full days of work, with the stain scented...

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Air Conditioning

Yesterday I was sitting in my office writing about how I’m not particularly fond of Air Conditioning.  I like the windows open and the smell of the cut grass!  As I sat here, the breeze was blowing in the windows, and my husband was out mowing.  It was lovely, except...<br/><br/>I couldn’t stop sneezing!  I confess, it occurred to me: if the windows were all closed and I had AC, I probably wouldn’t be suffering from allergies as badly.  Because of all the sneezing, and the itchy, watery eyes, this is my second week without mascara (<em>I know!</em>).  And they say it’s going to be a long allergy season, since our winter was so mild.  And the weatherman says it’s going to be <em>HOT</em> too!  Perhaps I should have given the whole house AC a little more thought...<br/><br/>Seriously, besides keeping us cool, and me grumbling about my allergies, there are some definite health benefits to Air Conditioning.  In hot climates, or on scorching hot summer days here in Central NY, we’ve all worried about our elderly or very young family members and neighbors during heat waves.  Excessive heat can cause fatigue and dehydration, which are both dangerous.  It goes without saying that an air conditioning system can reduce symptoms of fatigue as well as the risk of dehydration.  A <em>CLEAN</em> air conditioning system can help with external allergens (ie. pollen!) and can help with your overall air quality too.<br/><br/>Also, let’s not forget the importance of a good night’s sleep.  I feel for my kids when it’s really hot.  They have to sleep with covers on them at night (<em>it’s a known fact that bad guys can’t get you if your under covers</em>).  Of course that gets hot, and sleeping is a lot easier when you’re cool.<br/><br/>Air conditioning systems are expensive, and often need repairs - so depending on the systems your builder offers, it’s a good idea to check out Consumer Reports for the most reliable brands.  If you do end up putting in an air conditioning system, there are ways to reduce your monthly bills and to keep your house cooler in general:<br/><ul><br/> <li>Keep blinds and shades closed in the windows that get the most sun.  This really, really keeps the temperature down in your house.</li><br/> <li>Use a ceiling fan to circulate the cool air around you.  This way you can turn your AC thermostat up a few degrees, and still feel just as cool.</li><br/> <li>The new Energy Star light bulbs produce less heat, so there’s less hot air to cool down, thus reducing your cost.</li><br/> <li>AC units have programmable timers so that you can set cooling times around your schedule.  Just set the AC to come on about an hour before you get home, rather than cooling an empty house.</li><br/> <li>Cook on your grill.  And if you get sick of grilled food like I do by the end of summer, can you plug-in your crock pot outside?  Do anything but use the oven, which adds tons of heat to your house!</li><br/> <li>Make sure the AC filter is clean.  Periodically have a professional check your duct work , vents and registers for leaks.</li><br/></ul><br/>If budget is an issue, ceiling fans can be effective, as are window AC units.  And there’s always the stand-by of placing the underside of your wrists under cold running water for a few minutes.  That’s what we are doing, at least for this summer.

Air Conditioning

Yesterday I was sitting in my office writing about how I’m not particularly fond of Air Conditioning.  I like the windows open and the smell...

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Hot Water Heaters

As I sit here, cup of coffee in hand, eating my breakfast of leftover mac ‘n’ cheese (<em>I know</em>), I realize I still need to address hot water heaters.  It’s a sore subject, because this was one of our modular home building “mistakes”.<br/><br/>A cautionary tale:<br/><br/>When you are building a modular home one of the “pros” is that modular homes are built and set very quickly.  And that is truly a pro!  How exciting that your new home will be built in about eight weeks.  However, by the very nature of time, that means less opportunity for you, the modular home novice, to consider all of the angles!<br/><br/>Point in case - our water tank.  Many modular homes are shown with master suites, including a large master bath, with a large bath tub, complete with whirlpool! The show home we based our home on, had just such a tub.  We weren’t completely sold on the giant bath, as neither my husband nor I bathe often.  Oh c’mon, we shower everyday!   I figured the large bath tub would only be used as a laundry holding tank, or a raised bed dust garden.  But as we reworked the bathroom floor plan, the large tub looked best aesthetically.   A normal sized tub looked dwarfed in the large bathroom, so, we kept the large tub and jets.<br/><br/>Now, I’ve looked back at all of our paperwork, and our modular home dealer gave us a long list of the inclusions, and it is right there in black and white: Master Bath Whirlpool.  And right next to that, our dealer, Scott, had written: (upgrade water heater?).<br/><br/>I’m not really sure why we didn’t follow through on this, except that when you are picking out all the features of your home, there are a LOT of choices to make in a short period of time, and things get missed.  SO, our water tank holds 40 gallons of nice piping hot water.  Guess how much water the tub holds?  Well I don’t know, but more than 40 gallons.  40 gallons is not enough water to cover the jets.  SO, in order to take a bath and use our bathtub for its  intended use, we have to fill up the bath with hot water, WAIT for 30 minutes for the hot water tank to heat up again, and then add more hot water to the bath.  Call me a prima donna, but that is annoying!  And doing something to rectify this problem is going on “our” ever increasing list of things to do! Sorry, honey!<br/><br/>So, the moral of this tale is:  do as I say, not as I do!  Take a good look at how much hot water you’re going to need, and buy your water heater accordingly.  And, when your modular home dealer leaves you nice little notes about things you need to think about, do not ignore them!<br/><br/>And now I’m going to show you how to make your own hot water tank, that you heat with junk mail and sticks from your yard.  Only joking!  (I did see that on the internet though, if you’re so inclined...)<br/><br/>When you choose your water tank, it’s going to be heated by either oil, natural gas, propane or electric, depending on your location.  The installation will be done by your builder, so you can leave that up to them.  However, do choose the size of your tank carefully.  A standard tank is 40 gallons, but as I discovered, that may not be large enough for your home.  Not to mention, there’s always one family member who takes extended hot showers - will this leave everyone in the family enough hot water?<br/><br/>An alternative may be an on-demand water heater.  These may be more efficient and save you money in the long run, but according to my darlin’, they lose water pressure when several people are using the hot water simultaneously.  I suggest you think about this  option carefully if you have a large household and use the dishwasher or washing machine frequently.<br/><br/>Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to power wash the dust out of my bathtub.  Ahhh, so relaxing...

Hot Water Heaters

As I sit here, cup of coffee in hand, eating my breakfast of leftover mac ‘n’ cheese ( I know ), I realize I still need to address hot water...

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Get your credit score up!

Maybe your credit isn’t so good, or maybe it is okay, but you’d like to make it better so you pay less interest on your modular home construction loan!  First check your credit score, which can range from 300 to 850, and aim for a score higher than 760 - you can do this at <a href="http://www.myfico.com">www.myfico.com</a> .  OR, got to any of the three major reporting companies for a free report every 12 months - go to <a href="http://www.annualcreditreport.com.">www.annualcreditreport.com.</a><br/><br/>Lenders, such as banks and credit card companies, use credit scores to evaluate the potential risk posed by lending money to consumers and to reduce losses due to bad debt. Lenders use credit scores to determine who qualifies for a loan, at what interest rate and what credit limits. Lenders also use credit scores to determine which customers are likely to bring in the most revenue.<br/><br/>So, with a view to getting your credit score up, here are a few things to keep in mind.<br/><br/>1. Get a credit card if you don’t already have one.  Using a credit card or two can help to build your score. (Caution, do not apply for too many cards at once.)<br/><br/>2. Get an installment loan too.  Student loans, personal loans, mortgages and auto loans all help show you are responsible with credit.  Again, pay these off ON TIME!<br/><br/>3. Pay down your credit cards. Lenders like to see a big gap between the amount of credit you’re using and the available limit.  Keep your balances below 30% of the credit limit and this will help your credit scores.<br/><br/>4. If you have big balances on your credit cards this hurts your credit, EVEN IF YOU PAY YOUR BILLS ON TIME EACH MONTH!<br/><br/>5. If you slip and make a late payment, supposing you are a good customer, a lender may agree to erase the one late payment from your credit history.  This is one of those “it doesn’t hurt to ask” situations!<br/><br/>6. Check your credit report carefully to make sure there are no errors.  File a dispute with the credit reporting agency that gave you your report.  You can do this online, in writing or on the phone.<br/><br/>7.  Keep old credit cards, and do not cancel them.  Shred them if you must, but don’t cancel them!

Get your credit score up!

Maybe your credit isn’t so good, or maybe it is okay, but you’d like to make it better so you pay less interest on your modular home constru...

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