by | Sep 9, 2012 | Around the Home |
Remnants of hurricane Isaac recently brought heavy rains into our area over the course of three days. The total rainfall was over three inches; but we needed it.
After it rains, it seems like the house gets really dirty. Having two dogs that regularly shed is even more of a need to clean the house. The vacuum cleaner I have now sucks up the dog hair; but after a while, it gets clogged and my hubby or I have to clean it out. I have been looking at different vacuum cleaners. I came across a vax vacuum cleaner on the vax website that offered different variations of machines. Their mascot Gatsby is too cute.
My ideal vacuum cleaner
1. Picks up dog hair
2. Not heavy to lift
3. Cleans hardwood floors
4. Good price for good quality
I just vacuumed my carpet when this picture was taken.
I have carpet on my platform where my baby grand piano is located. To keep the carpet clean I vacuum at least once a week. The color of the carpet is a blush rosy pink so dirt and pet hair is noticeable. I have a beagle and a collie. Even though they have short and long hair the shedding is quite substantial. To keep the hair from overtaking the house, my hubby and I have to comb them at least twice a week. After we comb them, it looks like we could almost knit a small sweater. But by grooming them we keep the house looking in tip top shape. We love are doggies so combing them is also a good time to play with them too.
I was looking at an article from Better Homes and Gardens, How to Clean Carpet. It gives great tips on how often you should clean your carpets and what to look for in finding a vacuum or steam cleaner. Carpets are in investment so I want to make sure that I am doing my best to keep them clean so they will last for years.
Next Cleaning the House episode I will discuss dusting.
by JTwisdom | Sep 6, 2012 | Travels |
The Missouri Botanical Garden recently brought an amazing display of art to its grounds. Described as “Art by Day; Magic by Night”, the Chinese Lantern Festival highlighted Chinese culture and history with more than twenty ornately designed structures. Since the Garden already hosts an annual Chinese Culture Days and has a Chinese Garden, having the Lantern Festival seemed to be a perfect fit.
Missouri Botanical Garden
Chinese Lantern Festival
Art By Day; Magic By Night
When I read about the Festival, JT and I knew that we wanted to go. However, with summer temperatures topping out at almost 110 degrees for most of July, we decided that we would wait until the temps were a bit more bearable. But with the festival ending in mid-August, we knew we had to go soon, or miss out. We were down to the last week of the festival before the weather broke. On the night that we went, temps were only in the mid-seventies. For August and in Missouri, you could not ask for a better night.
Tickets for the night-time portion of the festival topped out at $22 for adults. In a city where most cultural institutions have free admission or low admission for special events, this one had a much higher price tag. But we both really wanted to go, so the price did not matter to us. We arrived to the Garden at 6:30, about an hour and a half before the lights would be turned on. This gave us an opportunity to go through the Garden and view the structures without being lit up. In order to truly see the magnificence of all structures, you had to see them both ways.
Having seen the structures during the day and at night, we were not disappointed. The $22 was well worth it.
The Missouri Botanical Garden is close to our home. If you are not planning to take a big, out-of-town vacation, look at museums and other cultural institutions in your own city. There may be something worth seeing; without the expense of finding a hotel room or paying for gasoline for the car. It may be a once in a lifetime event like the Chinese Lantern Festival.
Here are a few of my favorite photographs.
Pandas in the Bamboo Field
Art By Day
Magic By Night
J and T enjoying the Chinese Lantern Festival
by | Sep 5, 2012 | Around the Home |
Hi Bubbling Readers,
Hope your week is going great!
Prayed for rain and its been raining in Missouri last weekend and this week. Actually seeing green grass is such a sight from the brown grass that was sun parched during this summer.
My hubby and I have really been going through our home and making a list of projects that we want to do to spice up the charm of our home. An example of my dream front door is in the style below. Notice the door is very Celtic inspired, you can see more examples of exquisite craftsmanship. This design below really gives me ideas about what I want for the door on my porch.
Todd Doors in Oak Majestic
I am really looking into how to pick the right door so I have been doing some research. This Old House has an article on its website, “How to Pick a Front Door,” by Dan Vandevort. Entry doors need to be strong enough to withstand the weather. Doors that are not able to take the four seasons will have to be replaced more often, so it is so good to get the best the first time around.
Picking a storm door
My hubby and I had a storm door installed last October because we have two doggies. It is good to have that buffer of a storm door before they run outside. The glass is quite long on the door because we want our beagle to be able to look out of it. He loves to look at birds and squirrels. The doggies’ view is important so that was one of the design qualities that we wanted. Remember that you have to take the whole family into the design considerations so please take your time when you are making plans. These little guys have to be part of the design too.
Things to consider when picking out an entry door or storm door
1. The door needs to strong and able to withstand the weather. Meaning rain, sun, snow, the elements and still look just as good when you bought it.
2.Consider the whole family when making design decisions. We could not go only by a pretty design we really had to take into consideration how would the doors be used.
3. Get two or three estimates when getting a door installed and make the best decision on your budget and your plan.
There are a lot of things to consider; but when you have a plan your home projects will go smoother.
by | Sep 3, 2012 | Accessories, Fashion |
I had the privilege of being asked by Firmoo to receive a free pair of glasses of my choice from its website. I am giving my honest opinion in this review. You ask, “What is Firmoo?” Firmoo.com is an online optical store that has incredible prices that knocks other eyeglass chains out the park.
“Vision and Fashion the Frugal way.”
I have paid hundreds of dollars, even with my insurance plans. I quite skeptical of the quality; but I said to myself, “why not give it try.” I checked out the website and the selection of frames were very attractive and stylish. On the website you can get either prescription or non-prescription glasses or sunglasses. I decided to get a pair of single vision prescription glasses. I gave them my eyeglass prescription; but I did not give them my PD number. This number is very important because it is measurement of my pupil distance. You can measure your own pupil distance or get that number from your eye doctor. My hubby and I measured ourselves the distance of my pupils, it was easy. I emailed in my measurements and I waited the glasses in the mail. I was not sure how long it would take. I was thinking maybe a couple of weeks because that is typically how long it has taken in the past with other glasses that I had ordered.
However, the eyeglasses arrived in the mail three days later. This is what I received in the package. The eyeglasses, the hard case and soft case, replace nose guards, polishing cloth, screws and a tightener.
I wanted to try on the glasses as soon as I knew that it was my package from Firmoo. The frames that I chose have a cool detail on the sides. They are very comfortable and fit really well. I have never purchased glasses online before. I am a believer that getting glasses without the help of your eye doctor really works. All you really need is your prescription information provided by your doctor.
When you go to Firmoo.com, you can use the try-on feature to see how the glasses will look on your face. You can upload your own photo to find a frame that looks good on your face. The prices are reasonable; but also stylish and very on trend. Every new customer can get a free pair of glasses and all that you have to pay for is the shipping. It’s pretty amazing!
I am so happy with my complimentary pair that I will be back for another choice. Check out the site because you get a Firmoo free pair if you are a first time customer, all you have to pay for is the shipping.
Thank you Firmoo.com for the opportunity, the eyeglasses are awesome.
by JTwisdom | Aug 29, 2012 | Travels |
JT and I began our recent trip to Memphis with a stop at the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel.
Located in Downtown Memphis, not far from Beale Street,
the Lorraine Motel is significant because it was where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on the evening of April 4, 1968.
JT standing in front of the Lorraine Motel.
Outside Room 306, where Martin Luther King was assassinated.
The Museum, built next door to the Motel, documents the Civil Rights Movement with an interactive and an interpretive timeline.
Visitors will learn about slave ships that transported hundreds of people to America; Jim Crow laws that kept segregation legal and pioneers in the Movement like Rosa Parks.
As I made my way through the museum, I read why Martin Luther King was in Memphis at the time of his assassination.
King had came to Memphis to rally with striking sanitary workers who were asking for higher wages. The sanitary workers rally cry became “I AM A MAN” – a simple; but powerful message that, I believe, symbolized the entire Civil Rights Movement. Black Americans wanted to have the same rights and freedoms that white Americans were given. They wanted people to know that they were man too.
As I turned to my left to read the next section on King, a cool chill ran through my body when I realized that I was looking into his room and at the balcony where he was shot.
Inside Room 306. The room where Martin Luther King stayed.
The balcony where Martin Luther King was standing when he was assassinated.
In addition to the Civil Rights Timeline, your ticket also allows you access to the building across the street from the Lorraine Motel.
This is the building, a boardinghouse at the time, where James Earl Ray, the suspected assassin, was at when it is believed that he fired the shot that killed Martin Luther King.
The main exhibition in this building is the evidence collected against Ray, who confessed to the murder; but later recounted his plea.
The viewpoint from the boarding house where the assassin was suspected to be positioned at the time of the murder.
The topics covered in the Civil Rights Timeline provoke emotions that I have never felt before.
Typically when leave a museum, I feel good and uplifted about my experience.
But when I left the National Civil Rights Museum, I felt saddened, humbled and disappointed; but also motivated.
We are constantly learning, growing, and believing for change,
and growing up, I heard stories of the segregated South and the violence that black people endured because of their skin color.
It did not become a reality for me until I had the chance to see the videos, the photographs and the images.
We have come so far since that time, but I know we have so far to go, especially since racism still exists in our country.
The Civil Rights Movement continues until everyone does their part to
ERACISM.
TIPS for going to the National Civil Rights Museum
Go Inside
You can view the balcony where Martin Luther King was assassinated without going inside to the rest of the Museum. But why would you do just that.
If you do not go in, you will miss out on so much more history and information. Yes, the tickets are $13.00 for adults, but they are well worth it.
Buy the Audio Tour
For only $2.00 extra, you can listen to Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis narrate the key topics of the Civil Rights Movement.
Although they do not address every topic on the timeline, you will learn more by listening to them.
Watch the MLK Video
The video is about 30 minutes; but it is well worth the time. The video give eye-witness accounts of the assassination of King.
Watching it gave me chills and connected me with the events that happened only a few steps from where I sat.
Take Your Time
The Museum offers too much to see, read and listen to, to rush through it. Give yourself at least two to three hours see everything.
Had we had more time, we could have spent another hour beyond the two and half hours that we were.
Just Go!
This not a museum just about black history and is for black people.
This is a museum for everyone!
You may say, “Well I am not black. What will I learn from it?”
We all have something to learn from this museum.
We do not want has happened in the past to happen again.
Follow!