~/~ THE REAL HELL’S KITCHEN !!! ~/~

Posted on May 18, 2013 by

Into the house you say?  YES!!!  You have the Plans? Then let’s take this BABY ON!!!  Without those Plans this kitchen will be HELL, if you make the wrong move.

Your outside work is completed or so near completion that you have, A Great Sigh of Relief.

Now you have somewhere to run to when the going get’s Rough on the inside and IT WILL, do not fool yourself. If you have to take down a wall for that open floor plan. Just let me tell you now, there could be UGLY THINKS hiding out in there!!!  Always have someone else, contractor or your developer, to give you some directions in this matter, steering  you in the way you need to go safely. One wrong move and you could “pay dearly”.

If you are not a home owner, you need to check always ,with your landlord to make certain you are within your leasing agreement, before any changes are made, even if you feel it is an improvement.  Here again, you can make changes with decor items and other things that are not permanent, yet can change your surroundings.

So many home improvement centers are willing to teach you, guide you, and make your home improvement job much easier if you let them. Again your plans, this is why they are so critical to have. They let others know where you are going (as well as yourself), so you are not “left out on a limb” .

Checking out new appliances, could not only help with the over all improvement of your kitchen, but put a big hole in your wallet. Then changing out old for new could save you money, help with your energy cost, and as with stoves or dish washers prevent a fire, if parts are not functioning properly.  Check around for these items carefully, prices vary from store to store and season to season. Be a Savvy Shopper, it will pay off in the long run.  ;-)

Flooring, wall coverings, back splashes, cabinets, and lighting, are high end investments, again planned wrong, could cost you big bucks. Do your homework, bring samples home, look around at open houses (these homes are staged for a reason, it works well, to get potential buyers), internet play with plans, you have a wealth of information out there for free, so use it.

Decor items can be worked in as soon as you know that you have nailed down every detail of the changes you have made. Paint and window coverings can now all fall into place. Plans, Plans and Homework, will make you Love your surroundings much more and save you money, so that you can throw that steak on the grill this weekend.

Think Back, you can run outside now when you need a break or finish a long day tearing your kitchen apart. You are able to cook and entertain outside. YOU PLANNED THAT OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE SO WELL !!!

Make your kitchen part of your outdoor living space. You can by bringing the outside in, with doors that will allow you to move your party inside if needed, for overflow of guest or weather. If you have it in your budget, check it out. Looking outside on rainy days while being able to still Bar-B-Q on the grill. This could  also re-leave some of the stress in your life.

Changing your HELL KITCHEN, TO WORK IN PROGRESS !!! 

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English: Kitchen Interiors from Eddie Rider Designs (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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~~ PLEASURES OF THE GREAT OUTDOORS ~~

Posted on May 11, 2013 by

Totally understand last week, if you had no time to prepare for the outdoor life, you have been complaining you wish you had while that beautiful snow was on the ground. Did you give yourself time to enjoy the fall and winter?  NO!!!  Now, that all of that is out of the way (for some of us), how about it. LET GET OUT THOSE GRILLS AND ENJOY THE GREAT OUTDOORS!!!

The yard, you have been working on for weeks and the outside of your house (for you home owners) looks FABULOUS, I must say. So what are we cooking and for want event?  “Mother’s Day” is tomorrow, not celebrating it, that’s ok, your choice. Let’s get some friends over and enjoy the cooler side of summer (spring), before all the little bugs wake up, the air gets to muggy, the rain not predictable, and all the other things “Mother Nature” likes to throw our way.

Along with the up-keep of the outside, changing out your old cooking tools maybe something to look into. Broken handles, discoloration from food, and all the other problems that happen at the end of last year. Take care of  your cooking utensils, starting fresh and enjoy this season of cooking outside.

Visit the supermarkets, farmer’s markets, the discount chains, etc., to insure you get the best deals for your money is key.

Recipes, grab them off the internet, books, old family recipes, friends, TV, specialty shops, while at the markets, ask the butcher for the best way to prepare the cut of meat you have chosen. Most places now have recipes in the area where the foods are displayed. Videos maybe your best bet,(free at most libraries to check out). You can rewind till your little hearts content, are until you get “it right“!!!  LOL

Think outside the box, try new ways of preparing old dishes, just remember to test them out before you serve them. Your friend list could shrink with a bad meal. Let’s get this outdoor PARTY GOING!!!

You thought I had forgot the inside?  Since this is “Mother’s Day Weekend”. I will let you off the hook. But next week it’s ON. May I suggestion to make a plan, (ALWAYS). Do each room one at a time until you have completed it. If there are major items that a large expense maybe the hold up, then move on until you have the funds to complete it. I will check into some home improvement ideas next time to help out. The key is, with life always throwing us curve balls. We need a place we can run away, too. Getting out of the rat race for a while, letting our hair down. Bringing our family and friends back into the fold, keeping us balanced and on top of our game.

That is why cleaning up the outside and making it a focal point will give “YOU”, a place of refuge and then we can go inside and do what needs to be done with a “different point of view”.

ENJOY YOUR OUTSIDE LEISURE MOMENTS!!!  YOU DESERVE IT.

 

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^^^*** SPRING HAS SPRUNG~~”LET”S PARTY” ***^^^

Posted on May 4, 2013 by

What did you really think I had in mind, when I had you doing all that Physical Labor, Building Up Your Muscles, Putting New Thoughts Into Your Winter Sleepy Minds? Just for Appearances, just so the Neighborhood would look Great, just so your Homes would have more Value, so your Friends would say you were Awesome? I DON’T THINK SO, IT WAS SO WE COULD PARTY!!! O.K., maybe for those other Great Reasons also. LOL

You know you want to get out, be among your family and friends and if I had to be the one to make you clean up your ACT ”so be it”. Enjoy your NEW OUTDOOR LIFE you have Created and Remember Safety First and Keeping It Clean, means less work this winter. You should know by now I had a Motive and Plans. Let’s Party Guys & Gals.

You have been inside all winter waiting for the summer sun to be outside and having fun, (mid July you’ll wish for that snow, totally not able to please you) just to get busy faithfully cleaning, repairing and planting. Well, I must say you have done An Amazingly & Awesome Job. Look around at your work, You are FANTASTIC !!! 

The first party got to have a theme, Cinco de Mayo is this weekend, to soon? Since we didn’t have a plan maybe next weekend, not a problem. Just get in gear and make that move, we can not allow all this hard work go to waste. It does not have to be over the top, but enjoyable so you feel that self worth for the job you completed.

Next week recipes and inside cleaning. I looked in your windows,  AWFUL, “What were you doing ALL WINTER ???  ENJOY  ;-)

 

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*^*^*GETTING DOWN AND DIRTY*^*^*

Posted on April 27, 2013 by

This is not going to be pretty, as a matter of fact it’s going to get down right dirty!!! But somebody has got to do it and it might as well be you. The past few weeks have been great to get outdoors and throw away those heavy coats and clothes for some spring wear and let the fresh air into our minds, body and souls.

The outside yard work has been somewhat of An Adventure for some of you and others could not wait to get your hands dirty. That in itself can bring on new adventures. What to throw out, what to clean up, recycle, classes. To do A Great DIY  Job take on the classes like you would a new language or a new hat you would be proud to wear. And know when to” throw the towel in” and get Professional  Help.

Now that the cleanup is fully on it’s way and those plans in hand. While you were making space for that new cooking area, conversational & games seating , fire pit site. Did you even find a place for An Awesome Garden? It does not have to look like it came out of a home and garden’s magazine. This is your little plot of soil. It can be a few pots of herbs, flowers, vegetables, rocks (yes rocks, beautifully arrange), it will depend on the area you have available and the time you can devote to it. This will be some place or something you can do when you need that me time. Do something for me, or I am doing this as an outlet so she/ he can still remain on the Universe, just do not hurt the plants!!! Talk to them to sooth the Beast Within.  ;-)

Now that I have added more to your outside job list (like you needed it). How about some help? Look around again TV, stores are blooming now, the internet, friends they always seem to have an overflow, magazines and books, Some farmers markets have vegetables and flower plants for gardens, as well as green area plants. But do have a garden space for yourself. It can be as large as you can afford. Now keep in mind, you may have to do the work possibly alone! If you think for one minute that those other feet under your table, smiling and telling you they will help, are going to last for long. SIT UP NOW, YOU ARE DREAMING!!!   */*

Have a Planting Weekend and Enjoy.  ;-)

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~~**~~HAPPY EARTH DAY~~**~~

Posted on April 22, 2013 by

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*/* GETTING READY FOR THE GREAT OUTDOORS */*

Posted on April 13, 2013 by

Now that we have our plans and all the right tools at hand, how about putting it to the test ”let’s get started”.

You have checked out yards on-line, T.V., every electronic device known to man, talked to friends and neighbors, taken classes at the local yard stores and your plan in hand. You look ready, you should have the proper tools and gadgets to get you through this task. You should also have your yard furniture in place, set up for the fire pit, Bar-b-Que cooking station, or whatever you have plans for in the yard. If not use some item it’s size, so you can get an idea of how the area will be upon completion, so there are no surprises at the end. Nothing like having a beautiful fire pit, then learning your bed of roses, are bring in bees when you are trying to entertain or your roses don’t like the smoke from the pit. So do your homework ahead of time and save yourself time and money.  Also check your local area about Fire Pits. 

If you already have your yard completed with the normal yard items but just want to up-date or make a few changes. The same plan can work for you as well. Move things around for seating, as well as showing off your new items that you want others to see. The same goes for renters, as well as a small balcony areas, you want to make a Bold Statement about.

Flowers can make or break your decor. Select the right plant for the correct area and the place will light up. Greenery is always something important to add. Height, also the amount of plants used, mulch or rocks. All of these items should be kept in mind when your plans are completed.

If you have to purchase big ticket items from a garden shop, take your plans for placement, as well as your peace of mind that your space can allow for it.

Now that we have gotten all the “thinking out of the way”, let’s kick up some Dirt and put this plan into Motion.

When you have completed the job, stand back take it all in, then sit down with your favorite drink and enjoy. YOU ARE TRULY AWESOME!!!  ;-)

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*** Pulling Out The Tools??? ***

Posted on April 6, 2013 by

Some of us can see the GROUND NOW!!! Then there are those of you that can and may not want to see it. :-D But Fear Not, for help is on the WAY!!!

You can take classes on the weekend now and go home and try out what you have learned. Are you can go out and just have at it (the one’s in the dark glasses, not wanting the neighbors to know they came to fix the mess they made).  LOL

I say how ever you tackle that yard let’s have at it. You did not purchase just a house,  but mother nature as well. She may need a little or a lot of help, but you got this.

First take a look at what you want before you get started. If you have other family members, let everyone have their say in the plan. But really this is not only your space, unless everyone else say they want no part of it, then GAME ON!!!

Now that you have a plan go on-line, drive around and check out other yards and make sure you have pencil and paper (please pull over and make your notes), sometimes people are not to happy about picture taking, if they are not sure why you are doing it. Talk to others at work or friends to get some ideas, but the Major Part of this project or any other is planning and saving money. Yes!!! Saving Money, if you just go out and purchase items for the yard, because it looks cute and no place to put it. It will just sit in it’s container and die, a total waste of money.

Now plan in hand, Safety First, maybe you have some help, if it’s a major project, have a little yard party afterwards, just to let them know you Really Appreciated their Help. But if you are on your own make the most of it. Take Your Time (not all summer), but if you do it when your time allows, it will seem less than a job to be done and more like a new addition to your Home.

Remember, not only yard care is going on here but gardening, making outdoor space for entertaining during the summer with family and friends, improving on your curb appeal, making your home a PLACE You and Your Family can really come home to and enjoy. So make it REALLY YOUR OWN, MAKE IT REALLY FEEL LIKE HOME!!! ;-)

This does not only apply to home owners. Learn about your renter’s rights to have outdoor space. If it’s small or a balcony even, containers are available from small plants to trees that can make your space BEAUTIFUL, yet portable when you have to move or want a quick change. So keep in mind your climate, space, help, time, and money. But do take the time to change your surroundings outside as well as in, others may just follow you and all it takes sometimes is One to change a Community for the BETTER.

Make certain of your choices, allow for change, have an imagination, watch your budget but most of all ENJOY YOURSELF!!!

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