TLC for Your Refrigerator

A family refrigerator can hold hundreds of dollars of food at any given time. If this appliance fails, your food investment can spoil within hours. Avoiding any refrigerator failures is critical so try some tender-loving care provided by you and the professionals.

Wipe Down the Gaskets

Your refrigerator relies on door gaskets to seal in the cold air. If these gaskets become warped or damaged over time, cold air escapes and the motor must work harder to cool the appliance. Ideally, wipe down the gaskets once a month. Use a damp cloth with some mild detergent. Keeping the gaskets clean will encourage them to remain supple while maintaining their structure over the years.

Be Observant

Although most refrigerators seem to work without any issues for several years, you shouldn't ignore them entirely. Be observant about your appliance so that any small problems are caught early on. Look for condensation on the exterior of the unit or a build up of ice in the freezer. Contact professionals when the appliance seems to work differently than before.

Consult With Professionals

Once or twice a year, contact sub zero repair professionals for a basic checkup on your refrigerator. Any minor issues can be repaired with a small fee compared to major problems costing a lot of money. Professionals will normally clean off the coils in the back of the unit along with testing the electrical components. You can always contact the professionals between appointments if there's any issues that arise. In many cases, the appliance will last for a decade or longer when it has constant care.

Keep it Full

A clever way to maintain a strong, refrigerator motor is by keeping the appliance full. Because there's less space in the appliance, the motor doesn't have to work hard to cool the interior. A nearly empty freezer or refrigerator requires more cooling action, which wears down the motor. To further reduce strain on the motor, only add room temperature or cold foods to the appliance's interior. Storing hot food only forces the appliance to cool the interior even more in response. 

With the exception of a basic hum, refrigerators shouldn't have any major noises emanating from them. If you notice a chronic sound coming from the kitchen, ask the professionals to look at it as soon as possible. These sounds may be easily fixed in their early stages. Waiting for them to subside will only cost the family more in time.

Celebrating Christmas In Our Home Sweetie Home

Just like last year, there are only 3 of us who celebrated Christmas in our home sweetie home.  Last year hubby was here but my son wasn't able to join us due to his job overseas.  This Christmas 2016, my son was here but my hubby wasn't around. It seemed like it's very hard for us to be complete on this very special day due to their commitment at work, nonetheless, we still managed to celebrate Christmas happily.  After all, this is the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and remembering Him on this very special day and sharing the sweet moments with our loved ones is what matters most.

Our celebration was just plain and simple, we had just prepared a simple Christmas dinner at home and invited few relatives to come over to hand in their gifts especially the kids.  After that, we had our traditional exchange of gifts and just spent time together trying to catch up with each other especially with relatives whom we do not used to see at this time of the year.

As my kids love to take photos, we just spent the rest of our time taking our photos around the house. here are some of our happy moments last Christmas. 

I know this is quite late but I would like to wish each and everyone a blessed Christmas and a Happy New year.  

How to Find a Roofing Contractor

Making sure the roof of your home is in good condition is essential for the safety of your family. The roof of a house must endure a lot of harsh weather conditions. Therefore, this wear and tear will require your roof to be repaired or replaced eventually. This is why it is essential that you hire a very experienced roofing contractor to oversee any repairs that you are going to be making to your roof. It goes without saying that a roof job that is not done properly could be very dangerous for the people living in the home. Unfortunately, not all roofing contractors have the same level of skill. This is why you need to be very careful when you are searching for the right man for the job. Here are a few tips that will allow you to hire the ideal roofing contractor.

Make sure that any roofing contractor you consider hiring has been doing that job for several years.

You should make experience the most important factor that you research when you start looking for contractors in MN. Some people are tempted to hire roofing contractors who do not have a lot of experience because these people charge less. However, doing this would be a huge mistake. Less experienced contractors are more likely to make a serious mistake that could lead to significant damage being caused to your house and injuries to your family members. The extra money that you will pay to an experienced contractor will be a worthwhile investment in the long run. You should never hire a roofing contractor with less than six years in the business.

Always verify that your roofing contractor is insured and has a valid license.

There are many people who assume that the contractor they hire has a license and insurance. However, this is not always the case. There are some people who work as contractors without any license. Why is it important for your contractor to have a license? It basically tells you that the person has received the necessary training required by your state to perform the type of construction project you will be hiring him for. There is no telling how much training an unlicensed contractor has received. Insurance is also crucial for a contractor to have. This is because damage could be caused to your house by the contractor or his workers. Therefore, you need to be sure the contractor has insurance that will cover the cost of any damage that is done.

Loft Living

We have officially started with our new project for 2017.  This has been in my goal list since last year and although it is not very easy to raise funds needed for this project, me and my family really worked hard to have this thing happen this 2017. We long wanted to convert our idle land into something that could provide us with an extra source of income, and so we came up with an idea of constructing a 2 units of small apartment.  Our budget is tight and we wanted to make full use of the small piece of extra land that we have, so we have decided that rental units will only be on the second floor and the empty space on the ground floor will be utilized for another project.  Because of this, we are challenged to come up with a design that would maximize the use of space, maybe something simple but complete and functional. Because of this, I thought of coming up with two one-bedroom units with loft for extra sleeping space so that each unit could cater for at least 3 to 4 people.

The following designs seemed to be attractive for me:

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I am really a big fan of space saving ideas and when it comes to maximizing space, I always challenge myself to come up with something extra ordinary that would give me endless possibilities.

Investing in a Generator Is a Wise Decision

A generator is something that the vast majority of households do not have. However, it can definitely come in handy in a wide variety of situations. Unfortunately, most people do not begin to think about the advantages of owning a generator until it is too late. The trick is to be proactive and install a generator before an emergency happens. You might be on the fence about installing a generator. Perhaps you are not completely convinced that you need one of these machines. Here are some reasons that will prove the value of a generator beyond the shadow of a doubt.

1. The installation of a generator is an improvement that will increase your home's value.

It never hurts to do something that will make your home more valuable. The installation of a generator will definitely fall into that category. The value of your home will go up whenever you add a popular feature to your home. It always helps if this feature will be desired by potential buyers who might be willing to pay more because of it. Having a generator in your home will make it more desirable to potential buyers. A generator will eventually pay for itself on the back end when you eventually decide to sell your home.

2. Losing power because of a storm will not be a a traumatic experience in the future.

It goes without saying that the main reason you will be getting a generator installed in your home is to be better equipped to deal with power outages. Losing power for an extended period of time can be a huge inconvenience and ruin your quality of life. It can also cause all of the food in your fridge to become inedible. Having a company that sells Generac generators Houston come to your home to give you an installation estimate would be a smart move on your part.

3. The security of your home will be increased.

Having a generator installed will give you less of a reason to worry about the security of your home the next time you decide to leave on vacation. Criminals prefer dark places where they cannot be seen. This allows them to perform their criminal activities much more easily. However, a generator will be able to supply power to your lighting system during a neighborhood blackout to keep the burglars at bay.

Dream Vanity Dresser

We just had constructed a new room on the second floor of the house and I am now thinking of how would I design the interior of the room.  I want it to be minimalist with only the basic furniture and all must be functional rather decorative.  You know...as you get older, you prefer more simple things. 

Meanwhile my daughter is requesting for a vanity dresser in her room, so while I am scouting for a design for her, I also tried to look one for myself.

I love the first two designs below, while the third and the fourth designs are the ones I am considering for my daughter's bedroom.  While I could settle for one without the lights around the mirror, my daughter was requesting for those lights.  Well, you know younger people are so vain now a days and a great fan of make up.  I am not a "make up" person.  I am good with just a powder and a bit of lipstick and eye brow liner.  So I don't need much of the drawers for such stuff. 

If I would be needing some shelves, maybe it would be intended for something else like colognes and perfumes and other facial cleansing products and lotions.   

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My daughter would definitely love to dress up seeing her entire outfit in whole body size mirror, so I think the design below is a perfect choice for her.

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This design is also nice although I find it having too many drawers which can be lessened in number, but I love the fact that it has some shelvings which would be good for "girly things". 

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I need to find a good furniture maker who could come up with customized vanity dresser based on our specifications.  I am really excited to have one for myself and for my daughter's room, as well.

Qualifications to Look for in a Contractor

Renovating your home can be a great way to add value to the property and let you have the freedom to make your home reflect your style. The key to getting a good renovation project completed within budget and within the right time frame is to find the best general contractor for the job. Before you start the hiring process, it is important to know what a contractor does and how you can tell if you are hiring a good one. 

What a Contractor Does

The first thing you should do before any construction project on your property is to know what a contractor does to get the job done. A contractor is the person who takes your ideas and turns them into projects. They are responsible for acquiring the materials, labor and specialized experts to get the job done. The contractor oversees the whole project and lets you know if problems arise. 

What You Need to Know

Hiring a contractor is more than just finding a name and a phone number. It takes research to understand not only how they work, but whether they have the right right licensing and skills to do the job. Asking friends and family for referrals is a great way to get a few names to consider. Once you have that, you can begin looking into whether they have all the certifications, licenses and insurance to legally do the job. 

Finding the Best for the Job

Once you have all of your research completed, you will need to contact a few of the best contractors you have listed. They will then be able to talk to you about your project, look at the property to see what the job entails and provide you with an estimate. At this point, it is important to ask for a detailed estimate with itemized lists of costs, especially with the materials. If a contractor refuses or presents any other problems when you meet with them, they can be removed from your list. 

Hiring a contractor is an important decisions and shouldn't be made without the understanding of what you need from them. With the right research and asking plenty of questions, you will be able to find a contractor that best meets your needs. Then, you can get started on your renovation project to make your home better than it was before.

Ways To Decorate With Terra Cotta Pots

I have this hobby of going to cheap shops (dollar store) selling assortment of terra cotta pots. I so love plants and I always find ways and means to decorate my home with potted plants of different varieties.  A house that is full of plants, to my opinion is always pleasing to the eyes and always bring a cool and fresh environment.  Even if the house is plain and simple, once you get it decorated with beautiful ornamental plants, the house will instantly transform into a haven. 

Here are some of the cool ideas using terra cotta pots as an excellent decorative piece:

Clay Pot Bird Bath

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Claypot Light House

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Minion Pots

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Attractive Planters

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Terra Cotta Table Top Fountain

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Terra Cotta Lamp Holder

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This is a very easy DIY project and could be an attractive way to decorate your garden, porches or backyard. Take your pick! :)

Christmas Kris Kringle At Home

At my age, I am still very much excited with Kris Kringle which has been a tradition in our home every Christmas eve.  I still have the same excitement every time I shop for gifts and always looking forward to what my kids had prepared for me.  The only thing that had changed is my preference for gifts.  I think, as you get older, you are slowly changing your priorities.  I did not believe this last time but now I'm feeling exactly how I was told about this long before. Of course when you get older, that means you have already experienced long years of working and you have probably rewarded yourself many times with material gifts that you tried to justify because you are working too hard. 

Last Christmas, my daughter came up with an idea of coming up with a wish list wherein we have to list down at least 5 things that we want to receive for our traditional Kris Kringle.  Surprisingly, I did not list down any fancy thing, I have listed down something that will keep me stay healthy like a fruit basket and basket of fruit juices and salad dressings.  Well, my kids fulfilled my wish and I have gotten myself 2 pretty baskets exactly what I wished for.  Of course, the end result is "happiness". :)

Luckily my daughter did not ask for anything grand like a new electric guitar or amp 150.  I bought her a new and cute power bank instead.  I am supposed to give her a pair of nice doll shoes but she is very particular with the design of the shoes, so I don't want to end up giving her something that she wouldn't like.  I think a nice power bank is a good idea, and that is also one of her wishes.

We had fun during our Kris Kringle, we were so excited to give and receive our respective gifts to all the members of the family. This is one of the many traditions I wouldn't like to miss each year.

How about you? Did you have your Kris Kringle, too?

A Perfect Way to Hide Garden Hose And Tools

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I am proud to say that I am a very organized person, give me a messy space at home and I will surely freak out and feel stressed out in an instant. I hate clutter and as my kids would always describe me, I'm a bit perfectionist when it comes to cleanliness and orderliness. Most of the time, I would repeat cleaning an already cleaned area in the house if I still can see some flaws and because of that, my kids would always complain about my high standard in cleanliness. :)

I also do not know why I am like this.  Some of my friends say that I have a disorder, they say I have an over compulsive behavior.  Although, I acknowledge that this is a disorder, I still think that this is far better than being disorganized.  Not only you would benefit from this but the rest of the family members.  Who doesn't want a clean and organized home anyway?

Well, speaking of organization, I was so happy to get this idea of hiding your tools and garden hose by enclosing these in a customized cabinet.  This is very neat.  I always have problem storing back my garden hose after using it and this storage solution, I think, is worth doing. Not only you would hide your garden hose but the extra shelves can also be utilized to store other tools and garden accessories. Isn't it cool?

Now I have something for my next project. :)       `