Parrot on a PorchA Journey Toward the Little Mansion Dream

When the husband learned that a friend bought a set of tools during the Black Friday sale madness at Walmart at an almost giveaway price, he immediately asked why I didn’t buy one for him. He said that I should have thought of that especially we’ll be having our own home soon and he need all those tools especially when there are repairs and restoration that need to be done. He further added, he may not be an expert repairman like those plumbers Richmond, VA, with the proper tools he’s confident that he can fix whatever patching up tasks that we will be faced someday unless of course for major overhauling tasks. I guess that’s how he shows his interest and excitement over owning our dream home that he will really be THE main man in the house.

I’m not sure if there will be such great deal again at Walmart for a set of tools but since I see the need to buy one, I think it won’t be a bad idea if I buy one in a local hardware store, with or without a sale price. I agree that these tools are necessities in any home because they actually serve like a first aid kit for the house.

My boys and I spent our Sunday morning window shopping in the mall for appliances and furniture that we will soon equip Little Mansion. By the way, we checked out the construction last Saturday and it’s nice to see that the second floor has been done. According to the foreman, they will now proceed with the roofing this week. As I was saying, we had a fun time canvassing for stuffs at the Home and Appliance section of the mall. Albeit we’re having little debates and we don’t agree on some things like the preferred brand to get or the style and design of a furniture, I love the fact we both have a “say” on these things and that everything gets settled right away after we compromise. One particular instance was about the barbecue grills selection. Roasted meats like chicken and pork chops are the husband’s favorites and his prayers are answered when the contractor allotted an open space in the service area (near the dirty kitchen) where we can mount a grill.

27 inch Built-In Lynx Grill with Rotisserie

He’s insisting that we get built in grills. I believe he got inspiration from the grills he saw at Outdora as the descriptions of his desired types match these Lynx Grill models (see pictures above). He even mentioned about Rotisserie features which, he says, will be useful when having a big party or if grilling under time constraints. While I agree that these models are heavy-duty welded and it has superb design and high end styling, I don’t think that having a built in type is necessary in our little home.

E250s Pedestal Electric Fire Magic Grill

I prefer to have the electric free standing fire magic grills. They’re equally durable but they are sleek and can be stored easily. I was thinking of using the open space for something else so I am refuting his built in grill idea. Also, I think an electric one is better since fuels like natural gas or the liquid propane isn’t good for my son’s respiratory ailment. Another point I’m raising, I like a free standing grill so we can bring it along when we have a swimming party or a picnic adventure somewhere else.

We haven’t agreed to what we’ll get but it seems I’ll have this my way after I gave in to his preferred air conditioner type.

I was reading about social security disability benefits online (I’m impressed how Allsup has helped more than hundred thousands of people receive their entitled Social Security Disability Insurance and Medicare benefits), when our “shopping box” from Boston arrived last Thursday noon. These are the Black Friday loots we shopped through a friend in the US and she sent the box via sea freight. My friends are excited over their pillows and mattresses, toys and apparels for their kids, digital frame while I was all smiles when I saw the pots and pans, towels and Corelle plates bought from Walmart. Yes, our friend’s the expert when it comes to packing.

But guess who’s the most excited to open the box!

These are my loots…so ready to have Little Mansion, huh?

The exciting part in “dolling up” our Little Mansion has begun. We have not bought any yet but we’re now canvassing for appliances and furniture to equip the house. It really is delighting to window shop for now but taking a look at their nerve-wracking, eye-popping and POS systems-breaking price tags, it certainly is not. That’s why I told the husband that we better manage our finances better if we really want to purchase all of them right away. From the looks of it, I don’t think we can afford all of them at the same time especially that we also have to consider the housing loan premium, the billing of which will start immediately as soon as the loan gets approved soon.

Here are the items that we’ve canvassed so far (and still have to be saved up for):
1. Dining Table Set
2. Sofa set
3. Refrigerator
4. Air Conditioner
5. Bed Frames and Mattresses
6. Range
7. Washing Machine
8. Water Dispenser
9. LCD TV

Luckily, we were generously gifted on our wedding with some house items like: Microwave oven, Rice Cooker, Iron, tons of bowls and kitchen utensils, bed linens, towels, fans and a lot more.

Albeit quiet stressful money wise, planning and building a place that you call your “own” is still one energizing and such an exciting task.

As I blog at this moment, two electric fans are blowing steadily to my direction. Yes, that’s how hot it is these days in the afternoon that you wish you were relaxing in a beach, submerged in the pool or just having a nice idle time in any of the miami hotels. Summer time is indeed just around the corner here in this tropical country and I’m certain that it’ll get even hotter and more humid in the weeks to come. Which reminds me to start canvassing for Little Mansion’s air conditioner having these tips and Easy Furnish Guide from Abensons in mind.

There are three(3) major things to consider in buying an air conditioning unit:

• The room size and the cooling capacity of the unit. The table above serves as a guide on the room size and the necessary capacity of the aircondition unit, so before buying one, make sure that you know the size of the area that needs to be cooled. Choose also the size that you know would fit the window or the slot for your air conditioner so you won’t have to make major changes in your wall or in your window. Before visiting an appliance store, please get the following information; room size(LxW in meter) and aircon slot(LxW in feet)

• Check on the EER or Energy efficiency ratio. This will allow you save more electricity so you want to invest on a more efficient machine. The EER number ranges from 8 – 12. As a rule of thumb, the higher the EER, the more energy efficient.

• Think also of the design and the features. You may choose a unit that has a remote control for easy adjustment specifically if high wall installation. Also, it would be advisable to have a model that has a timer so it would automatically turn off and switch to fan mode when desired coldness is acquired. A model with a noise reduction feature would be convenient is becoming a big concern particularly among families within cities. Get an aircon unit with purifier to prevent irritants in the air that you family breathe.

I couldn’t get enough of Ikea Saudi’s site so here I am, I’ll blog and “bookmark” the stuffs I’d like to buy through Mom when they get back to Dammam or Riyadh next month. I wonder if they accept payments via phone check just in case Mom’s credit card’s limit won’t be enough.

I find these shoe organizer style perfect in the closet corner.

If only, this is not bulky and too costly to ship, this wooden shoe cabinet is also great.

These bathroom pouch set is also a great tool to organize bathroom supplies.

Then some more kiddie stuffs for the little one.

Korall Anemon Tent

Vippig Seesaw

I don’t know about you but my childhood Christmas years consistently consist of eager anticipation for Santa on the Christmas eve. Yes, we grew up believing in him…a tradition that I’d also like to pass on to my son. And as an eager beaver parent that I am, I’ve got his stocking ready by now. It’s the same Christmas stocking that he used last year. I would like to have it personalized but I think I don’t have enough time to do that now especially that our daily schedule before Christmas is so busy. Perhaps, next year, that’s the number one task on my Christmas to-do’s. Meanwhile, here are a few personalized Christmas stockings that are simply eye candies.

Personalized Rudolph Character Stocking from Walmart - $19.90

Personalized Stocking with Reindeer Fabric from Etsy - $22.50

Funky Fleece Christmas Stockings from Etsy - $10.00

Velvet Monogrammed Red Stocking from Target - $9.08

Velvet Olive Cuff Personalized Stockings from Stocking Factory - $20.94

Even though we haven’t experience any real big time moving in the past, I perfectly understand how grueling the work can be. Just thinking about it, in fact, is already overwhelming as you can’t seem determine where and how to start to pack up. I can remember when my son was just a few months old and we house hop to pay visit to the grannies during the weekends to and from Frisco where my in laws reside. You know how babies have so much essential stuffs that should be brought especially for overnight and a few days vacation away from home. Packing and loading lots of stuffs into the car is really draining. It’s as if we got a preview every week how to move houses, only on a smaller scope. What’s even harder for hubby and me was that we didn’t have a helper back then so we were both exhausted taking turns in loading the stuffs while the other one carries the baby.

Next year, when our little mansion will be ready for the big move in, I know and I have a certain plan in mind that will let us transfer with so much ease. I have been seeing “lipat-bahay” signages around the neighborhood posts so I’m going to research further about them. I am hoping that I can find Movers specialists similar to the Los Angeles Movers that I chanced upon through Hireahelper.com. Of course, everyone would want helpers who are fast, well-equipped, efficient and most of all, professional with their services. That’s what I’ve been reading in the testimonial pages of their site particularly about the New York Movers. So if you are within these area, you know whose services to contract for your big move.

I find their booking way so systematic and hassle-free. So how this “middleman” agency works? You can browse and search movers from your area on their database. Profiles and reviews are available for you to peruse so you can select whoever you deem perfect for your moving requirements. You select the right helper for the right price as you are able to compare prices. Once a selection has been made, the helper contacts you for job acceptance after which payment shall be made via credit card. An authorization code will be provided which you will hand the helper once the work is done. The authorization code will be the redeeming coupon of the helpers for them to get paid by Hireahelper.com. Other local services are also available like cleaners, lawn/garden helpers and day laborers.

Sharing these wonderful electricity tips I got from a Meralco Primer:

1. Use natural light whenever possible. Open those windows!
2. Switch off lights when not in use.
3. Use Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) instead of incandescent bulbs. They are more energy efficient and can last up to 10 times longer.
4. Clean bulbs regularly. Dirt lessens illumination by 50 percent.
5. Use low wattage light bulbs in areas like hallways and doorways.
6. Use lamps that give direct lighting over desks, beds and work areas.

Let’s face it. With the world recession and a far from improving economic condition, life is indeed getting harder each day. Tune in to the nightly news and what we hear are the never ending and depressing news about inflation and laborers getting retrenched. As a homemaker and the finance manager of the house, I can directly feel the effects. Doing the math of our monthly expenses and budgeting are the tasks I truly abhor because the numbers just depress me.

It’s no wonder why people resort to availing loans and credit just to augment their salaries and make their ends meet. However, a debtor should always be in control and be wary of his availments because he may end up falling deep in the pit of high interest rates, charges and possibly negative impact on credit rating later on. In the US, their credit score is really important and it’s a thing that they do take very seriously. Future credit and loan availments are dependent on it. For multiple loans, they do debt consolidation which is a process of taking out one loan to pay off many others to secure a lower or a fixed interest rate. It is advisable to consolidate debt when paying multiple credit card debts to lower the interest rates which consequently means increased capability to zero out the debt. It may appear complicated but there are helpful service entities out there like the 3debtconsolidation.com that are well versed with such transactions. Their site even has a resource for sample debt settlement letter collection whatever the nature of the debt-related transaction is. In these difficult times like these, they certainly are lifesavers of those that need credit help.