The Difference

I love my water softener.  I have lived on both sides of the tracks.  Homes with water softeners and homes without.  There are definite advantages to having a water softener.

The first thing I noticed was that everything lathers up quicker.  I'm talking dishwasher, washing machine, and even my hair require less cleaning supplies when I have a water softener.  There is without question a savings on the dollar amount spent on soaps, shampoos, and detergents.

The second thing I noticed was not only was I using less cleaner, but I was cleaning faucets, sinks, bathtubs, etc... with the greatest of ease!  It didn't take me long to see that I no longer had hard water spots on every surface water touched.  I think the best part was that glassed came clean after going through the dishwasher.

Then I started thinking that if I saw this much of a change with a water softener, I wonder if I would notice a change if I had a drinking water purification system.  I mean, think of all the dishes water goes into such as hot chocolate, soups, etc... They would have to taste differently according to the water added.  Perhaps I need to consider youngstown water delivery.  This way I would have delicious pure water everyday.  We are always admonished to drink plenty of water, and if I'm drinking plenty, it better be good for me.

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

I've Learned Too Much

I've written often about my Dad and my brother and their love for cars.  I also have a son in law who shares this interest.  He and my daughter have been looking for a used car.  They live in a days drive away from me, so imagine my surprise when they called and said they found the perfect car... and it was only five minutes away... from my house.

They asked if I would go take a look at it.  Maybe even test drive it?  I do not claim to be an expert in evaluating a used car, although, you would think I would be, growing up with a Dad and brother who have dragged me from used car dealers from California to Used Car Dealer MA.

I looked at the tire tread, and it looked like they were fairly new tires.  I looked for rust, but didn't find any.  I looked for evidence that it had been in an accident, and asked the dealer for the car fax on it.

As I drove it, I listened for weird noises, or strange sounds if I turned sharply.  I played with the steering to see if their was play in the steering wheel.  I checked the brakes and if they responded quickly with my touch, or if I had to push very hard.  What a minute?

I have learned too much growing up, but I guess it has come in handy after all.

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

Short Sales - FYI

Just a few things to remember when you think of buying a short sale house...

The agent or seller usually sets the price, not the bank, however, the bank decides whether or not it is an acceptable offer.  The fact that the bank is price unaware leads to the long process.  As the buyer, patience is key.

A home load with one bank is better than a home with loans at two banks.  Getting two banks to agree just adds to the process and therefore, dealing with one bank is definitely a more buyer friendly situation.

A lowball offer will get a slow response and possible no response at all.  The bank knows what is left on the loan and if a buyer comes in ridiculously below this amount, the bank frequently scoffs at such an offer giving the buyer little or no feedback.  Always check comparable before making your offer.

"Approved" prices are the quickest.  An "approved short sale" has a price that has already been given the green light by the bank.  For example, shorts sales in nevada, an interested buyer that made an offer to the bank that was approved, but they didn't end up buying the property.  Obviously this is a much quicker sale and is often more desirable.

All in all, a short sale can be to your advantage as long as you have the patience and knowledge to make it work for you.

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

Mario

My Mom drives like Mario Adretti.  Seriously.  When they lived up in Ramona, CA, there was a winding road that she drove every day to get her down to San Diego.  This was no mild winding road.  There were cliffs on one side of the road and jagged rock walls on the other.  There were so many twists and turns that when we came to visit, my children would frequently get sick from her driving this route.  And as the years went by, she didn't become more careful, she became more adept.

She learned such worrisome skills such as "you never break into a turn" and "you should always accelerate out of a turn".  And her car was no slouch.  She preferred models with Performance Engines, and lots of speed.  My Dad gave her one of those things that beeps when police are around.  Really?  And when she started to time herself, I had to put my foot down.  It's not like she's getting any younger and I was sure that I was going to get a call one day that this crazy gray haired woman going 90 flew off the cliff on her way home to Ramona.

My grandchildren call me Baba.  They call my Dad, The Colonel.  The call my Mom, Nana, but I swear we should all be calling her Mario.

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

Technology Too Advanced?

Perhaps technology can go too far.  At my work, we occasionally accept checks.  I know that for the most part, people don't even use checks, but when they do, it is shocking at what type of checks you see.

With the printing and computer graphics advancements, comes incredibly real looking checks.  You can print up check after check right from your own home.  The check system that most businesses send a check through only verifies that the account is in good standing, or has no overdrawn amounts.  So, in other words, a check with a fraudulent check number, will still come through the system just fine.  The account doesn't exist, so it doesn't have any overdrawn signals to flag the system.  There is a company called Safety Checks who help you build up a defense system against this type of fraud.

We had a guy who came in with a book of checks like they were his business checks.  He also had a personal check book.  And he had his wife's check book.  Yep.  All were fake accounts.  This guy was making up account numbers all over the place.  He made a good living on money that didn't exist.  Crazy.  He was incredibly creative and had just the most beautiful looking checks.  If he would have only applied is graphic design skills to something worthwhile and good, I'm sure he could have made a good living and never felt the need to use fake money.

Technology.  We're too good for our own good.

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

Always In A Hurry

My youngest daughter is always in a hurry.  This is not a bad thing, in that, she is involved with good and worthwhile activities.  She has wonderful friends.  And she is kind and helpful.  The only time any of this comes into question is when she is behind the wheel of her car.

She is rushing to go to rehearsal for any number of plays she is in.  She is rushing to meet friends for one thing or another.  She is thoughtful in giving kids a ride either to or from school, but again this puts her in a rush.  And the problem with rushing is the dents, dings, and fender benders.

I am grateful she has never had a serious accident.  In fact, I regret having written that down.  Knock on wood.  It is the hurrying out of the garage and hitting a car parked in the street directly opposite of our driveway.  This has happened on more than one occasion.  The mailbox is also at the end of the driveway and has suffered because of it.  There are posts in parking garages in Salt Lake.  There are enough dents in her car for work to be done from here to auto body repair in Columbus Ohio.

I'm afraid she might be in a hurry to get it fixed though.

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

A Home

With the selling of my home coming all too soon, I find myself looking at homes and their interiors all the time.  Whether or not I am driving down the street and checking out the beautiful yards, the window treatments, or front door decorations, I'm taking it all in for when I move to my new place.  Websites like thepartnerstrust have picture after picture of homes to admire and gain all kinds of ideas from.  Magazines have occupied me for hours with the endless storage, organization, and efficiency ideas.

I have looked at kitchen islands so much, that I have come to the conclusion that this will be the one piece that I have custom made.  I have looked at so many and have gleaned creativity from so many, that I have decided to combine the very best components of all.

Our family is centered around the kitchen.  This comes as no surprise to those of you who know me and know my love for baking.  The kitchen island will be the hub of all activity.  I'm even including a bench that my grandchildren can sit at and help me cut out and decorate cookies.

My home will be just that.... a home.  Warm.  Loving.  And full of my grandchildren.

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