AA Blog

Last year we remodeled our kitchen with new tiles, so it is fitting we remodel our bathrooms this year with new tiles.  Both our kid’s bathroom and our master bathroom are in dire need of a face lift.  We have recently changed the hardware and fixtures but that just didnt seem to be enough.  So our next big project will be retiling both bathrooms.

We looked at a lot of tiles and found exactly what we were looking for.  The kids bathroom will be redone in marble mosaic tile, and for our bathroom we will be going with Subway tiles.  The work will begin on Saturday and we are hoping that it will take one day each to complete the job so that Monday everything will be back to normal and we will not be without a bathroom in the mean time.

Once this project is completed, we will be finished with the interior of the house.  We can then start thinking about redoing some of the outside, and I think we will have to begin with the roof.  Fortunately for us, the earliest we can start on that will be in the summer so I will have some time to plan and save for it.  You know that will not be cheap!!!

During our last home improvement project, my wife suggested we change our address sign on the front of the house.  I did not think this was such a big deal, so I agreed to it.  A couple of days later, when she brought home the catalog of items to chose from, I was really overwhelmed with all of the possible choices that were out there.  I never realized that address plaques were so numerous in numbers as well as designs.

Making a choice from all of the amazing pictures of the home address plaques was the most difficult part.  It was hard because there was so many things to chose from, but I have to admit, the selection process itself was fun.  We looked through so many samples and designs and finally settled on four of the whitehall address plaques we both liked.

I have to tell you, once we installed the address plaques, they looked better than we could have imagined.  The subtle change in the outside entrance areas so prominent that it fools people into thinking we made some major changes to the area.  I would highly recommend this type addition/modification to anyone who owns a home.  The cost is relatively low for the big improvement you will attain from this.

I asked my wife what she wants for Christmas, and to no surprise, she said shoes, boots to be exact.  She even went as far as naming the kind of boots she wanted.  So for this year’s gift I know exactly what to get her.

All I have to decide is what to get her from either old gringo or tory burch shoes.  My choices are now narrowed down to exactly what she wants and it will make things much much easier for me.  As a matter of fact, I found the online shop for Shoe Inn where I can see then select from a wide variety of choices and have my purchases shipped directly to me in time for the holidays.  This year shopping is going to be so easy and fast, that I have a feeling I will be doing the same thing year after year.  And, the most important factor is that I will not only save time, but money also.

After I am done buying shoes for her, I think I will buy all the women I know shoes for Christmas.  For some reason, that a man will never understand, getting women shoes is the best and safest thing.

With the holidays fast approaching it is time I start looking for cheap airline tickets to the east coast for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.  I want to visit my brother and his family this year and am planning on taking my family.  I usually do not look for discount airfare,  but since I will be needing 4 full fare round trip tickets, I want to save as much money as I can.

I think it is early enough that I can check a number of online discount airline tickets providers and really be able to find the best airfare rates to New York or New Jersey. The fact that I will be staying at my brother’s place and will not have to pay to stay at a hotel is huge.  I can ultimately use the the money I will save on hotel stays to purchase more flexible and direct airline tickets to the East Coast.  And, at the end, I will still have spent much much less than what I would have spent if I wait to buy my tickets closer to the holidays.

I have a feeling this Christmas is going to be one that my kids will not soon forget.  They will be spending time with their cousin and uncle and most importantly, they will experience their first white Christmas.

With the economy in the shape t is in today, debt settlement is now something that all debtors are practicing so that they could get the monies owed to them.  SO if you have any type of secured and/or unsecured debt, and are having problems making ends meet, this is definately something you should consider.

Look into getting some professional help in debt negotiation and you will find that the companies you owe money to are willing to at least hear you out and more often than not, will work with you to put together a re-payment plan that will be mutually beneficial.  Getting debt relief may be the only way to survive during these turbulent times until the economy recovers and you are able to live comfortably again.

Many companies have sprung out that claim to provide you with the expertise you need on re-negotiating your debts.  However, it is imperative that you do your due delligence and select a reputable company that will represent you and look out for your best interest as opposed to just taking your money and providing no real service or benefit.  Times are tough, and you have worked hard for your money, so be careful and do not let it be swindled away from you.

My kids have discovered online games and are exploring all that the internet has to offer. I am glad to see that they are actually putting out an effort to find things on the internet (even though at this point they are only games) however, as a parent I am concerned as to what they may accidentally run into.  I do not have a problem with my kids playing online games, as long as I know and approve of what games they are playing.

I think video games, computer games and online games are not as bad as some people make them out to be.  But, just like anything else, they need to be taken in moderation.  These types of games familiarize kids with computers, increase hand to eye coordination and, in my opinion, expose kids to the wonders and amazement of sciences, robotics, design and engineering.

Online games can be fun and educational at the same time.  However, guidance must also be present so that the full positive effects of such games can be obtained by those who play them. When we were growing up, pinball machines were the craze, and just like today’s video games, the pinball machines were making use of the technology available at the time.  And, our parent’s were criticizing us and the games we played.

Web site hosting has become such an easy thing to get now a days.  I remember when finding a good hosting company was a real pain and a huge unknown in terms of the kind of service and reliability you would get from your web hosting company.  Technology has come such a long way that this is no longer n issue.  With this being said, it is still very important that you pick the right web hosting company for your needs and requirements.

One of the biggest decisions you will have to make is deciding on a Unix host or windows hosting services.  Often times this is something that will be pre-determined based on the type of application you are running and your needs for Active Sever Pages.  Once you have determined this, make sure you allow yourself room for growth and check the uptime service agreements as well as the speeds you are guaranteed.  I think these two things are critial in having your site up and available.

The biggest thing today is the availability of Green Hosting Services.  A web hosting company who is green, is not only helping the planet but is also providing you with lower cost plans because they are able to pass along their electrical cast saving to you, their customer.

One of my friends decided to finally take his weight loss seriousely and went on a Weight Loss Retreat as a last resort to fight the battle of the bulge.  Everyone’s expectations were very low as he had tried a number of times to control his weight with a number of diets and exercise plans that never worked.  SO, going into this thing, he and everyone around him just thought this would be another failure in an attempt to lose weight.

A week after his return from the Weight Loss Camp, everyone was extremely surprised, in a good way I might add.  He came back a little skinnier, but more importantly with an understanding that the only way this diet would work, would be through a change in his life-style and eating habits.  The first thing he did, was to dismiss the use of the word “diet”.  Instead, he now refers to it as “eating habits” and understands how his body processes the foods he eats. He is now able to control his food intake and the pounds are coming off permanently.

We are all very happy for him now and are actually considering going to a Weight Loss Resort ourselves.  Not so much for losing weight, but more so for learning how to eat healthy.

As my kids are growing, the time they are spending online on a computer is increasing.  As such, there are more things that I need to secure in terms of web surfing both in terms of the content they may be looking at as well as security for computer intrusion. In short, I want to see where my kids are going online and make sure the computers they use do not get infected.

As a security measure I have installed a Keylogger so that I know what and who my kids are talking with online.  I feel more comfortable monitoring what my kids are doing.  I am even thinking about placing a GPS tracking device in their cars when they get their driver’s license.  I hate being so over protective, but the alternative is something that can be a nightmare.

Times are different today from when we were kids.  There are so many ways by which kids can be approached now a days that as a parent our responsibility has grown and we must take all the steps necessary in making sure their safety is not compromised until which time, they are able to look out for their own safety.

Guest post of the week by Nestor Nielsen

When the week has gone badly, there’s nothing more satisfying than attending a professional football game and watching football at its finest. College games, or even high school games, are good for what they are, but the pro games are the ultimate football experience. We’re there whenever we can be. We have a large family and it’s not always possible to make all of our schedules fit in together so that we can enjoy the finest in football. That said, when it’s possible, we make it there with enthusiasm and love in our hearts for one of the greatest sports ever invented. We love the players, the coaches, and the other fans that come and scream their hearts out. Loyalty is what it’s all about.

No matter how much we love the live game, there are times when we need to stay home to watch the big game. Thanks to the clarity and excitement of satellite television from www.Direct.TV, we’re able to enjoy a beautiful rendition of the game at home. The sound is amazing and we can hear and see the other fans as plain as day. Sometimes it’s almost like being in the stadium because the picture is so crystal clear and the audio is amazing.

When we can be there, we’re there. When we can’t be there, we can still curl up and enjoy the action of football.