This past Monday I came back to my home in Wisconsin after a trip to Texas. My family went to see my 18-year-old son’s graduation from basic training with the Air Force. The eight weeks he was gone seemed to stretch on forever. But in the days leading up to the trip, I had so much on my mind in the way of packing and planning, that it diverted my thoughts at least somewhat. One of the goals that I had for this trip was to come back home to a clean house. I didn’t want to leave it in … Continue reading →

I was recently watching a local talk show (similar to the “The View” but hosted by newscasters) and one of them was talking about something called Feng Shui. It is an ancient Chinese means of balancing the energies in a room in order to give those who live in it good health and fortune. Since it follows the Taoist vision, I personally don’t believe in the balancing of “energy.” My belief system is a little different but I still thought it had some interesting concepts, especially when it comes to mapping out a room with this. In my next blog … Continue reading →

Have you ever noticed that certain homes have their own smell? If you have a good nose, you might be able to tell within seconds of walking into a house, whether or not they own a dog. I think the only reason you may not be able to tell in my house is because we don’t have carpeting. However, sit on the couch and you might. Or get anywhere near my youngest son’s bedroom and you might smell his reptiles (two bearded dragons and a turtle). Open the door to my oldest son’s bedroom and well, let’s just say that … Continue reading →

With it already being November, you are probably starting to think about preparing your home for the upcoming holidays. My family gets a break from Thanksgiving, in that we always have it at a relative’s house. But we do host Christmas, so I am starting to think about those preparations in advance. Here is the thing about holidays and having friends and family over…we tend to get too wrapped up in the little stuff. How many people do you know (or perhaps you are one of them) that will spend hours and hours cleaning or scrubbing areas that your family … Continue reading →

Do you want to relieve some stress in your life? Then make your home as inviting as possible. People don’t always realize how the state of your house can affect your mood. There is nothing like coming home after a long, tiring day of work to be able to walk into your home and feel good about your surroundings. On the other hand, there is nothing like coming home after a long, tiring day of work and walking into a mess. Who wants to look at piles of dishes or papers scattered all over? Who wants to deal with the … Continue reading →