Mess. Expense. And No Control.

There's something about the plumbing problems that bother me.  It has a variety of elements that I just don't like.  There is the mess.  The expense.  And most annoying is the lack of control of the situation.

I was happily sewing Halloween costumes for my granddaughters and working in the kitchen.  I have my sewing machine on the kitchen table, the ironing board up, and the T.V. on.  Just a nice night at home working on something for people I love.  As I walked from the kitchen table over to the ironing board I stepped into a large puddle of water.  I was the only one home, and I didn't have a huge cup of water sitting around that could of spilled.  I first thought that maybe my iron was leaking?  Stupid, I know.  After soaking up the water, I followed the trail to under the kitchen sink.  Ugh.  What a mess!  Everything was soaking wet.

The expense inevitable happens from the minute you call the plumber because let's face it, you have to have a plumber.  Leaking pipes, clogged drains should not be left to the 51 year old woman who knows nothing about this things and really doesn't care to.  You pay for the plumber to come out, but then you pay for the evaluation of the problem.  In this case, a leaking garbage disposal.  Purchase.  A new garbage disposal.

But the most frustrating thing about all this is the utter lack of control.  The not knowing where or when this can happen.  And when it is happening, you have not control of it.  I had the dishwasher going and when the water was draining out of the dishwasher during it's cycle, this is when the water leaked out of the disposal.  How many times do we turn on the dishwasher as we walk out the door?  No control.

This is a sponsored post for Rotorooter, however, all the points and views are my own.

I'd Like to Say

Email marketing seems like an intrusion to your private life, and I'd like to say that I am above it all.  I'd like to say that it is ridiculous to assume that just because there's an email, a midst all my other email, from some company, that I will immediately desire to visit their site and make a purchase.  I'd like to say that it would be absurd to think that cute companies like mad mimi email marketing, who make a living on email marketing could stay in business.  I'd really like to say that it wouldn't work on me, but I can't.  It totally works!

There are countless examples I could share, but let me share the one that continues to be a problem.  And I say continues because I not only succumbed to the first email, but I cave with each and every email.  Literally, and I mean, quite literally, every time See's Candies sends me an email it results in a purchase.  It's not always an online purchase which you would think shows a great deal of restraint on my part.  Oh no... it most commonly results in my leaving my home, driving 20 minutes north, to get my free sample and make a purchase of the delicious candies.

The See's is located just inside the north west door, so needless to say, I could not tell you what other stores occupy this mall.  See's is my first and last stop.  I'd also like to say that my purchase lasts for several days, so if I were to receive an email for example, the following day, I would have candy at my disposal and not need to drive back.  I'd like to say that, but honestly, my purchase is gone before I get home.  It doesn't matter if I purchase eight pieces, or a pound box.  It will be gone before I get home.

So you see... I'd like to say email marketing doesn't work on me... yeah... I'd like to say.

This is a sponsored post for Mad Mimi, however, all the points and views are my own.

Hard Work

It's always good when you can instill in your children a strong work ethic.  I am grateful that my sons learned this, big time, this past summer.

My oldest son got a job through a friend.  He worked landscaping... all... summer... long.  It didn't matter how early they started, the sun was inevitable and the scorching heat along with it.  He literally, sweat off at least 15 pounds.  And he became so dark, there is not a person out there who would have believed he was my son.  I'm talking tan.  He didn't look like he belonged in Utah.  He had a California tan like he had been working for an Orange County Landscaping company.  He came home filthy, exhausted, and starving... the true sign of a days hard work.

My youngest son got a job through a temp service.  He worked for a steel company.  He lifted heavy highway road railings made of steel, hooking them on a belt above him.  The belt lowered the steel into acid, brought it up for my son to remove and hook to the next belt to be dipped into another solution.  My son had to go through a tremendous amount of safety glasses, wear goggle, steel toe boots, gloves, and shin/ankle guards.  He worked a 12 hours shift from 4AM to 4PM for 6 days a week.  He made good money.  He came home disgusting, with acid burned clothing, scraps and bruises, and filth all over him except wear his goggles protected his eyes.

My boys worked hard and I am proud of them.  They needed money for their next year of college and they worked hard getting it.  It also does me good to know that both of their employers told them they could come back next summer.  I think they both feel pretty good about themselves too.

Hard work.  It does everybody good.

This is a sponsored post for Southland Landscaping Company, however, all the points and views are my own.

Sure... No Problem

When my kids graduate from high school, I give them the option of either going on a one on one private trip with me, or cold hard cash towards college, or a car.  So far, I have had two opt for the trip.  The oldest wanted to see New York.  It was a fabulous trip and she has never returned.  She loved it from the minute we arrived and never looked back.  The other, also a daughter, chose to travel to Mexico.  Cancun to be specific.  It was amazing, but fortunately, she did not have the desire to return and live there.  Now my youngest daughter has chosen the trip.

We are going to southern California!  She said she wants to be treated like a kid one more time before she has to be an adult.  As such, Disneyland is our first stop.  When she was five, she stayed in the Disneyland Hotel with Grandma and Grandpa and was spoiled unmercifully.  I have booked us there as well, hoping to bring back those incredibly fun, childlike, memories.  After Disneyland, we will head to an area that will fill her with awe.

Her intense interest in theatre will bring us up to Hollywood for four days.  She wants to see everything Hollywood.  Grauman's Chinese Theatre.  The Hollywood Walk of Fame.  And all things Marilyn Monroe.  I"m hoping to book a hotel I know of where Marilyn actually stayed.  And then she did live in the area but only owned one home, in Brentwood.  I can see it now:  brentwood homes for sale and my daughter is going to want to purchase Marilyn's home!

Sure... no problem.

This is a sponsored post for the Partners Trust, however, all the points and views are my own.

Help w/ The Short Sale

When you can not actually sell your home for an amount to cover your mortgage obligations and closing costs, and you also do not have the money/assets to cover the amount you are short, your home would be a candidate for what's called a "short sale".

A short sale is not as harmful to your credit as a foreclosure, so ultimately, when you are back on your feet financially, you would be able to purchase a home in a shorter amount of time following a short sale.  The basics of the short sale are not so difficult, but if you find yourself on either the selling or purchasing side of a short sale, the benefits of an attorney are immeasurable.

You will need an attorney who specializes in with homeowners in financial trouble.  Let's face it, unless you are in this area of expertise, knowledge of short sales and foreclosure are limited.  Short sales require a person who is well versed in the market to be able to see all your options and opportunities available, and guide you through these process.

It's never easy to let go of your house.  It is your home, and home should be a place of comfort and happiness.  If you find yourself not relaxed, not comfortable due to financial strains, a short sale might be the option for you.

This is a sponsored post for Schwartz Law Firm, however, all the points and views are my own.

Peter Man and Tinkerbell

Halloween!  I absolutely love love love Halloween!  Just the fact that this holiday's focus is on candy tells you how much I love this holiday!  And to get to dress up... and better yet... dress up your children and then grandchildren... well... it is just frighteningly fantastic!

First the candy.  There is just something about the candy.  I don't know if it's the cute little sizes, the fact that stores stuff the shelves with bag after bag, or just the simple idea that it's time to buy candy!  It's the season that just makes candy taste better.  Candy corn and the little pumpkins made from the candy corn stuff are the picture of Halloween.  And although I do not buy a Heath Bar the entire year, at Halloween, the tiny little Heath's are phenomenal.  I can't eat enough of them.  Seriously, I am on my eighth bag and it is October 12th.

And dressing up!  I enjoy sewing and have made baptismal dresses for my girls, and blessing dresses for my granddaughters, but making costumes is so much fun.  Let's see... we have had Snow White, a crayon, Bamm Bamm, a hobbit, a variety of Disney princesses, a Lederhosen Costume, an Oreo, a lady bug... and this year my two granddaughters will be Peter Man (yes, I know it is Peter Pan, but my granddaughter prefers Peter Man) and Tinkerbell.

It will be the best Halloween ever!

This is a sponsored post for Lederhosen 4 U, however, all the points and views are my own.

Spring

I blog about my big move to my daughter's house a lot.  I don't need to tell you that I am crazy excited!  Yes, I do.  I am crazy excited!  But I have a lot of work to do to get there... and selling my house will require  much much work.

My house is what I lovingly refer to as "lived in".  There is not a single door in this house without a mark.  The walls... well there are certain areas where the walls have been subjected to some "hard living".  The family room, where a bookcase hides a hole in the wall the perfect shape of a soccer ball.  And the garage where every single person in this family has miscalculated just how far you can pull in without hitting the wall. But none of this is as bad as the yard.

Seven children grew up in this house and played outside... every single day... but that really isn't the main problem.  The problem is that as they have grown and moved away for school, or got married, the yard has suffered if for no other reason in that I hate yard work.  I would absolutely love to weed and harvest a small garden, but I don't want to put it in.  But after seeing a friends yard, which is positively the most beautiful yard you'll ever see, I have been inspired.

This spring, my yard is going to be gorgeous.  I am (paying a guy) to spread fertilizer that will work it's magic through the winter, so in the spring, the grass will be healthy and perhaps even green again.  I am also planting bulbs... beautiful daffodil, tulip, and paperwhite bulbs... that will magically pop up in the spring and give my little home a sweet and homey look.

It's a shame I can't plant bulbs on the inside of the house... particularly in front of that hole in the wall.

This is a sponsored post for Living Gardens, however, all the points and views are my own.