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We were surprised by a snowstorm yesterday afternoon, and it made me start thinking about the importance of insulation batts in home design.  Our home is older and imperfectly insulated, which is terrible when it comes to heating and cooling -- right now, you can actually feel the cold air when you walk through the front hall.

Did you know that you can also buy thermal and acoustic batts?  I love the idea of acoustic ones -- especially when we get around to putting on our 2nd story addition.  I don't want to hear the kids clomping around up there when I am trying to sleep downstairs!

While we're not so fortunate in the USA, Australia is currently offering an insulation rebate from Government.  That's a great way to help protect the earth by reducing waste and improving conservation of both heat and cold air in winter and summer, and it's also a great stimulus package for Australian contractors -- right now, they're having trouble keeping up with the demand for insulation!

jess @ 10:11 | comments(5) | Permanent link

That sounds silly, right?  But it's true -- I am a happy homemaker when my home is full of fun, easy-to-use gadgets that making cooking simpler or more pleasant.  I have garlic choppers, lemon zesters, and other gadgets big and small.

However, I don't have an oilless turkey fryer, and I'm thinking I may need to invest in one of these before Thanksgiving!!  I have heard terrific things about fried turkeys, but I'm put off by the idea of having to purchase and then cook in tremendous amounts of oil.  For one thing, it's unhealthy, and for another, it's expensive.  What's more, it's messy!  I'm already a messy cook, so anything that keeps my kitchen a little more reasonable when I'm cooking is good by me.

Before I buy my turkey fryer, I'm going to let a friend check it out.  He's an excellent cook and also a fellow kitchen gadget lover.  As long as he gives it a thumbs up, I'm sold!

jess @ 11:05 | comments(1) | Permanent link

. . . is snuggling up with my partner and family to watch one of our favorite television shows.  That's why I've put so much effort into decorating my living room, and why I continue looking for ways to cozy it up even more.  We spend a lot of time in there as a family.

In fact, now that winter is coming and we aren't going to be outdoors as often, we are considering making the leap from cable to Direct TV.  This way, we'll have a bigger variety of stations from which to choose movies, shows, and stuff for the kids to enjoy. 

All of our friends have given DirectTV great reviews.  They love always being able to find movies to watch, and claim that they're saving money since they aren't always running to the video store to rent entertainment. 

I am probably going to be buying my partner a new flat screen television for the holidays, so that might just be the perfect time to sign up for Directv.  Then we can really make the most of his present!

jess @ 10:35 | comments(0) | Permanent link

When it comes to the things I bring into my home, the foods we eat, and the vast majority of everything else, green is good.  Finding organic and natural versions of things we use on a regular basis is very important to me.  This means that the products I buy for our kitchen and bathroom -- both for eating and cleaning up afterwards -- tend to be all-natural or organic.  I don't want to take extra care to put healthy foods into our bodies only to spray nasty chemicals around the house!

We also avoid putting unnatural substances on our skin, preferring natural health and beauty products when we use them at all.  I'm not one to wear a lot of makeup, but whatever I do put on my face and skin better be good for me, and good for the earth.

Some people say that it's unnecessary to use organic products, or that traditional ones are just as good.  However, there are a great many benefits of using organic products.  Anyone who is well-read on the subject would come to the same conclusion -- organic is healthier and better for the earth.  Of course you will end up paying more for high-quality products, but when it comes to luxuries like make-up and other health and beauty related things -- if you are going to have them at all, you should take care to have the ones that are good for you!

jess @ 10:41 | comments(0) | Permanent link

It's not just paint we need . . . it's also time for curtains!!  When you have a new window, of course, you need to decorate it with something new. 

I am probably going to do what I did last time, and sew my own.  Last time, the pattern I used was a sort of farm print, very cute with chickens and pigs and cows and apple pies.  This time, I'm thinking something a bit hipper.  Maybe some tie-dye or something else ultra colorful.  I suppose it all depends on what color paint we select, but again, I'm happy to get started.

It looks like this new window is going to have me maxing out my credit cards once again.  Such is life.

jess @ 12:05 | comments(3) | Permanent link

We had a new window installed in our living room on Saturday, which means that the day I've been waiting for for so long has finally arrived.  We can paint!! 

This morning, I trotted off to Home Depot with my handy credit card to pay a visit to the paint chip fairy, and boy, was it fun!  I walked away with a multitude of colors that I would like to see on our walls, none of them even remotely resembling the putrid off-white that stains them right now. 

I am excited to get started, but of course, I have to get my partner in crime to agree on colors, first.  He's a little less . . . vibrant . . . than I, so I hope we can come to an amicable resolution.

jess @ 11:54 | comments(1) | Permanent link

Lots of smaller home decor crafters are attempting to grow their businesses, and one way to do that is to sell online by accepting customer credit cards.  This way, they can create pretty, functional websites on which to advertise their products and take payments at the same time.  Most customers today are too impatient to wait while sending in a check, and opening one's business up to the world wide web is certainly the number one way to increase sales. 

If you're looking for a merchant account for your own home decor store, check out the following site:

jess @ 10:59 | comments(1) | Permanent link

Our old mailbox has been falling apart for awhile.  It seems like, every winter, the plow trucks compete to see how many mailboxes they can take down in each storm -- and while ours hasn't completely succumbed to their vicious plows quite yet, our red metal flag is dangling in surrender.  It's time for something new!

Instead of buying another cheap one from a local store, I decided to shop online for one that would - hopefully - be a bit heartier!  What I found was a selection of Whitehall Products, all designed for the home and garden.  The mailboxes look nice and sturdy, and what's more, I was able to find my mom the selection of address plaques she's been looking for since she moved houses a few years back.

I picked out a pretty mailbox that appears as though it will stand up to the plow trucks this winter, and I also decided to purchase some house numbers since people always have trouble finding us. Summer always seems like a good time to spruce things up outside.  I just hope I don't regret this purchase once the snow starts falling!  

jess @ 14:17 | comments(2) | Permanent link