7.31.2017

Making your house a home

Everyone wants to be a home owner, I purchased my first home nearly a year ago ( how time flies)… once you have purchased then you have to move in and make your house a home.

Floors: This may seem like an unexpected place to start, but I find that one of the things that unites homes everywhere is an attention to what happens under your feet

Lighting: Having primarily lived in rented spaces for the past years of my life, I feel like lighting has represented a huge part of my design focus. While it sometimes requires a professional (I rarely try electrical work on my own, though I know many people feel comfortable with DIY lamp wiring) to complete the project, changing out the pre-existing lighting in any space will immediately make a room feel homier for a few reasons: it allows you to add a personal touch (like a favorite family lamp from home or something you made from found materials and a lamp kit) and it allows you to determine where and how light works in your room

Storage: One of the biggest lessons I learned about a house feeling like a home has to do with functionality. So many design decisions are based on aesthetics, but it’s hard to get around to decisions that are based on style before you deal with all the basic necessities of storage.

Furniture: You do not have to go broke and take out a second mortgage just for furniture, if you shop around you can get some gorgeous stuff and for great deals.

Artwork: Artwork is too often written off as being elitist, expensive and frivolous. But from the earliest days, people have decorated their homes with all sorts of things that mean something to them. From found objects in nature (like collections of shells and pinecones) and family weavings to photographs of your loved ones, Another great feature we love to have in our home is electronic frames ? It makes a great addition to any small space because you can show off a lot of photos without taking up a lot of valuable wall or table space! sculptures and paintings, art can be anything and everything you want it to be.

Customized Details (Hardware): There are many cases in life when the existing hardware on something is totally fine. But then there are those moments where the little details something comes with are as generic artwork you often see in hotels and conference centers. Mass-produced and without any relationship to the piece itself, these are areas that are just asking to be changed and customized in a way that makes the object itself feel more personal and at home in your space.

You would be surprised how some little things that make your house a home

**Sponsered post!!

7.29.2017

Happy Birthday Brooke

Don't Blink...

14 years ago you entered my life and it has been the best journey.

I was 21 years old, clueless, and riding waves of contractions like a complete amateur. There was walking, there were tears, and there was so much fear. I had no idea what I was in for. At all.

And then, at 8:54 am on July 29th, 3 weeks before her due date, my in a hurry little girl came into the world only 2 hours after my water broke. She was so quiet for the first few minutes, but then filled the room with her rage. She was strong enough to work her way out of the bundled blanket that the nurses so efficiently wrapped her in, and to this day she still sleeps with her limbs sprawled across the bed.

Loud, fiercely independent, and taking up as much space as possible since the moment she was born. Just like her mama.

I remember this feeling of absolute perfect love crashing over me. I was so incredibly lucky to not feel a moment of sadness after having her. I beamed for days. She was here. I made her. I birthed her. I felt like I didn't know what I was doing, but it was clear that my body was a professional. I was a rock star. I could not believe that this flawless human was made from such a tiny seed. It was amazing. She was amazing. Since I had Brooke, there is nobody who can tell me that miracles do not happen. She is my proof.

As much as I loved her, I was terrified. I was so afraid that I would ruin her somehow. That I would do the wrong thing, or say the wrong words, or set the wrong example. Along with love crashed responsibility. I had a duty to mould this 7lb, pink sleeper wearing infant into a functioning adult. This was day one, and I had so many days to go. So many opportunities to screw up.

Every mother wants their child to become healthy, beautiful, sweet and lovely. I also consider myself to be a very blessed mother because I am blessed with a healthy, sweet baby girl. I will be very happy if I get chance to do everything for her happy life so that i want a fairy house for my little fairy baby girl who is my pride and joy!

And then I blinked. And she was finished kindergarten.

Grade 1, 2,3,4 and she can read, and she can write, and she has lost five teeth, middle school then comes high school in september..
She is polite and kind and silly. She loves giraffes and has multiple best friends and despite how things may appear, she adores her brother.

When she graduates high school, she wants to be a music teacher. Not a programmer like her dad, not a princess or a ballerina. A career in Music. I realize that this will change in the next 4 years, but I am so proud of the way she makes up her own mind.

She is still loud and independent. She tests the rules and she questions everything. She is unbelievably bossy, not surprising as Brooke is a leader.

As much as it makes me want to tear my hair out, I am so glad that she is her own person. Nobody pressures Brooke to do anything she doesn't want to do. I desperately hope she holds on to these traits with white knuckles. She will need that strong will in the years to come.

There are days that I love her so much I could burst. There are days that I feel like all I do is yell. The latter are the days that I realize I am raising a smaller version of myself. I have yet to decide whether this is good or bad.

But at the end of the day, 14 years in, I do know one thing for certain; Brooke, my first born, has changed and molded me as much as I have her.

I did not know unconditional love or happiness or rage or fear until she came into my life. I did not know hope or strength or responsibility or absolute pure exhaustion. I didn't know I could laugh so hard or yell so loud or function on such a small amount of sleep. I did not know what it was like to be so sure that I would give my own life for another human being.

I taught Brooke how to eat with a fork, how to dress herself, how to pee in the potty. She has taught me so much more in her fourteen years than I could ever write down.

In short, she has taught me how to be a mother.

Most importantly, she has taught me to be afraid to blink because with just a blink she is 14.

Happy Birthday to my baby. I love you so much.

7.28.2017

Picking the right car for you

"Sponsored post.

Buying a new car is an exciting time in your life, whether it is your first car or you are one of those people who buy a new car every year, I work at a car dealership and some people are always car shopping.
There are so many to chose from but you need to pick one that works for your family, so here are 6 tips for picking the right vehicle

1) Buy based on your family needs: if you have a family a 2 door vehicle likely wont work for you. You need either a 4 door car, a SUV or a mini van, depending on the number of kids you have.

2) Look into Pre-financing Options

Many people obtain financing from the car dealership, but this isn’t fiscally responsible. Dealership interest rates are typically much higher than loan rates obtained from banks and credit unions. Your bank or credit union is one of the best places to start researching car loan rates, and you can obtain “relationship discounts” that you won’t find anywhere else.
Although you may not find the best deals online, you can also use the Internet to review current interest rates. once you obtain a quote from any financial institution, get the quote in writing. You can then present this quote to the dealership and use it as leverage to negotiate a lower interest rate. Another great place to check out is Cars.com they have the best deals for your money and your needs.

3. Shop Around Unless there is an emergency situation

Shop around before you buy a car. I have an established rule in place whenever I shop for a car: I always make sure that I walk out of at least one dealership. This way, I always know their rock-bottom price, often given to me just before I leave. It might also make sense to explore out-of-town car dealerships. Dealerships price their vehicles differently depending upon their location.

4) Look at Both New and Used Cars

In the past, buying a gently used car was the best way to save money when purchasing a vehicle. A big reason behind this logic is that new cars depreciate considerably the moment they are taken home from the dealership.

Unfortunately, the supply of used cars has decreased dramatically after many were removed as part of the “Cash for Clunkers” program. In addition, more people are holding onto their cars for longer periods of time before looking for a replacement. As a result, prices for used cars have increased significantly, making new cars a more realistic option.

5. Buy Based on Purchase Price, Not on Monthly Payments

Car dealers are notorious for offering a very attractive monthly payment to potential buyers. Do not be misled. If this “wonderful” payment is attached to a 72-month loan, then it’s really not that attractive at all.

Be sure to always negotiate based on the purchase price of the car, and not the monthly payment. Also make sure that you know the “full” purchase price of any car that you buy. There could be many extra, hidden costs factored into the price including various taxes, car preparation and delivery fees, and dealership costs that you won’t know about unless you ask.

6. Always Test Drive the Car

90% of people who buy a new car test drive it first. Do not be among the other 10%. You want to test drive the car for many reasons, but comfort should be foremost in your mind. There are some cars that you just won’t feel comfortable driving. If this is the case, move on.

If you have children, bring them along on the test drive. Their comfort level is important too, and trust me, they will give you their honest assessment of the car. In addition to comfort, look for the following:

Idle: The car should be smooth and quiet.
View: Make sure the view from each of the mirrors is acceptable, and you have a straight line view of all dashboard gauges.
Controls: Flip on the air, locate the turn signals, and turn on the windshield wipers. Ensure that everything is easy to use. Some people find that their fingers are too big to handle certain switches, buttons, or levers in some cars.
Handling and Brakes: Make sure the car responds when you push the accelerator or brakes. Cars vary significantly in terms of sensitivity, and you want to choose a car that best fits your preferences.

I hope these tips will help you make the right decision on the car that is perfect for your family.

I got some of this info from Car care ninja

7.26.2017

Operation Surprise Party

July 29 is my Brooke's 14th birthday so I wanted to do something special for her, she had no idea what she wanted to do for her birthday. So this momma threw her a surprise party with the help of her best friends. Thankfully I can access them on Facebook :) She went to her friends for the day while we prepped the party.