Jul 3
I have a huge problem with keeping my house clean. I always set out to do it, but only parts of it get done. Our house is just over 2,000 square feet with 3 bedrooms (and an extra one used for storage), 1 bath, a kitchen, dining room, living room and play room. My husband is always getting on my case because I can’t keep the house clean and tidy, but it’s so hard to me. Also I hate it when I do clean and the next day it looks like the same wreck again. I’ll give as many spec’s as I can for a visual. The kitchen is big. It has laminate flooring, lots of counter and cabinet space (just not quite enough that my pots and pans fit nicely), a double sink, fridge, stove and dishwasher. It also has a bi-fold door closet. We have a table and chairs that we sit in the middle, but plan to eventually build an island. There is also another portable dishwasher that sits by the door. The problem in the kitchen is that the floor always looks dirty, and there are always dishes piled up in the sink, even though I do them once and sometimes twice a day (in the dishwasher). The counters always seem to be very cluttered with stuff.
The dining room also has laminate flooring and nice antique furniture and an old piano. There isn’t a real problem keeping up with this room, because we only use it on special occasions.
The living room has laminate as well, with a large area rug in the middle, a big screen (65" rear projection) t.v. flanked by two glass-front entertainment stands that house DVD’s and components, three piece sectional couch and two end tables with lamps. The complaint i get about this room is that the floor always looks dirty. We have a white boxer, and she sheds a lot on the rug and her hair is all over the floor. This room can tend to be cluttered from eating and putting things on the end tables, but that doesn’t take long to clean up, and I usually do that at night before bed.
The play room is a disaster area to say the least. Our three and a half year old daughter doesn’t put things back where she gets them so they are always all over the floor. This room also has our computer desk, which we just got so all that is on it is the computer. The couch in this room has been serving as my husband and I’s bed (pull-out bed) for a few months because our bed room is being remodeled. So every day i have to put that back away and then get it out again at night. There are three storage bins for toys in this room, but they still don’t hold all the toys! And, yes, i just went through them and got rid of a bunch!
Now for the upstairs…
My oldest daughter’s room is really her issue. It is her job to clean it up, and other than the floor needing vaccuumed all the time, it’s ok for me.
My youngest daughter’s room can get quite messy. She has a doll house and furniture, about 15 bratz dolls and pieces and a desk up there. She also has the end cabinet on her old changing table filled with toys, as well as one of her dresser drawers. Every day I find myself picking everything up off the floor and putting it away again.
Our bedroom is under "construction" right now, so it’s pretty much n/a now.
The bathrom is another problem area. The sink is always filthy, and I have to clean the bathtub everytime I want to bath my youngest daughter (every other day). It always gets scummy. We know we have a mold problem in the floor of the bathroom, and are going to hopefully sometime this year gut the entire thing and start from scratch (sooner than later I hope). But until then, there is always clutter on the sink, dirty clothes on the floor and just blah in the bathroom! That’s the only way to say it.
I am very good about keeping up with the laundry. That’s one thing I like to do! I know alot of this is my bad habits, but I don’t know after 5 1/2 years of marriage how to fix it. I set out to clean, but get one room or thing done and then go watch tv. I don’t want to be a horrible housewife so if anyone has any helpful ideas, thanks so much!
Would YOU get rid of YOUR tv?
I know everyone thinks it should be easy for my husband to help, but in his mind, it’s not his job. He makes the money, so this is my job.
Hubby needs to learn how to pick up after himself. It’s unreal that he thinks to ride you when you’re taking care of everything.
As for television, that’s a none-issue for me: I don’t watch it.
Your younger daughter is probably old enough to start getting rid of baby toys. Do so: You need to reduce clutter. And she’s old enough to start learning to put her toys away. Make sure she learns.
Everyone in the house needs to start putting their dirty clothes in the dirty clothes hamper: That will be a huge help right there.
You need shelves and perhaps a chest or two to store things in the play room. And again, get rid of the things that are too young for the kids.
I keep a bottle of diluted lysol in my kitchen for a quick clean-up, and another in the bath. That makes it fairly simple to keep things clean. And I’ve chosen a day to dust, mop, and vacuum. So that pretty well stays done.
Another thing I’ve found helps is to do other chores while the washing machine is running: The machine can mind itself for a while.
Above all, talk to your husband about what you just told us.
Good luck.
Jul 3
When I tried to remove old chest, even though I thought electrical was off, it sparked and popped. should I continue to remove cabinet or wait for someone with more knowledge of electrical? I know a little, but no expert.
p.s.=my electrical reading device measures nothing.
Check your breaker box or fuse box and see if there is another circuit tripped now. This probably tripped the circuit. If so, continue with the removal. Otherwise try to figure out which circuit it is in the breaker box and turn it off before proceeding.
Jul 3
My apartment bathroom has a wall-mount sink. There is no cabinet underneath. In fact there is basically nothing underneath except pipes. I'd like to put something under there (perhaps a shelf set?) to make use of that space as storage for standard bathroom items. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Make a skirt to attach to the sink with velcro. And you can find some shelving to go under the sink to keep your cleaning stuff, etc. Like some slide out shelves or a little cart.
Or you could see if your landlord would install a vanity. Offer to split the cost. Or if you are handy (or know someone who is), offer to do it, if they will buy the new sink and vanity.
Jul 3
ok, i have this jack russell. she is a really cute dog, but she likes to chew stuff. she chewed up the bottom of almost every wall of my house, the side of my tv, my coffee table, the carpet in my house, a bunch of holes in my kichen floor, the legs of all my chairs in the kichen, the legs to my table, the corner of my counter, my x-box, my x-box controllers, the sides of my computer, most of my dvds, cds, video games, my deck outside, the corners of my dressers, the edges of most of my doors, many of my blankets, my books, alot of my clothes, the edges of some picture frames, the sides of my couches, the edges of my desk, she got a hold of my wallet and chewed it up and tore up the money in it, my cabinet doors in my kichen and bathrooms, she tore all my toilet paper up, she chewed off the ends of my cleaning products so i cant spray them now…. what is wrong with her? and how can i get her to stop chewing everything? my mother in law who knows alot of stuff said to spread the juice from meat and bacon greese on stuff, but that only seemed to make it worse. she chewed that stuff way worse when i did that. any suggestions?
What’s wrong is your dog needs more exercise and training. Chewing is a symptom of a dog with too much energy and not enough outlets for it. So you need to exercise her more often.
Second, left up to her own devices how does she know that chewing is bad unless you train her that it is.
Third, why would you spread something that tastes and smells good on things you don’t want chewed? That doesn’t make any sense. There are products out there like Sour Apple Spray that you can use that actually taste bad to help prevent chewing.
Mostly though it comes down to training. Your dog needs obedience and training.
Jun 30
If you have been watching the news lately you have probably heard the real estate bubble has burst. Properties around the country are sitting on the market much longer than in the past. Bad news for sellers, good news for buyers. With the downturn in the real estate market, what should you do if you need to sell your home?
If you are realistic in your asking price and properly prepare you home for sale, there is no reason you house shouldn’t sell. Set a timeline of when you need to sell by and start preparing today. The top 10 things you should do include:
1. Have a professional home inspection. Usually this is done on the back end, after someone has made an offer. By having it done yourself you can find out ahead of time all the little problems that need to be taken care of. Often it is these little things that can be a deal breaker at closing time and delay the sale of the house. You can also now offer your house with a pre inspection, letting prospective buyers know what items have been fixed.
2. Clutter. Get rid of it! The number one turn off for a buyer is walking into a house and seeing lots of clutter. Clean out your office. Pack away the kids toys. Clean out the basement and garage. Throw it out, pack it away, and get it out of the house. Empty out the closets. Buyers want to see lots of closet space. No matter how big your closets are, buyers won’t be able to tell if it is jammed full.
3. De-Personalize. A buyer has a vision of how their things are going to fit in. That vision can get distracted if all they see is family photos and all your collectibles. Pack it away and make your house neutral.
4. Clean! No one wants to buy a dirty house. A double spring cleaning is in order. Clean the grease and grime out of the kitchen. Get rid of the mold in the bathroom. Clean the dirt and cobwebs out of the basement. Dust in places you haven’t dusted in 10 years. Clean all the windows. Air out your house. A stale and musty smell is a real turn off. Keep it fresh and make it sparkle.
5. Paint. One of the cheapest ways to freshen up the inside of a house is with a fresh coat of paint. A good neutral color will do wonders. Patch the holes in the wall while you are at it. Don’t forget “ceiling white”. Another fairly inexpensive item that can make a room standout is by adding crown molding.
6. Landscape. Start with picking up the yard and any clutter. Trim up overgrown bushes and trees. Repair or replace any broken steps, retaining walls, gutters, concrete, fences or decks. Power wash your deck and give it a new coat of sealer or stain. Same with a wooded fence if it needs it.
7. Carpets and floors. Buyers love wood floors! If you have original wood floors covered by carpet, consider taking out the carpet and having the wood floors refinished. Replace old, worn or outdated carpet. Newer carpet should be professionally cleaned. New wood floors or vinyl floors can be an inexpensive upgrade.
8. Kitchens and bathrooms. Kitchens can make or break a sale. A total remodel usually is not necessary. Depending on your budget, you can paint the cabinets, have them refaced or simply add new hardware. New laminate countertops are inexpensive. Replace appliances that are old and outdated. Make use of the space if you have room for an eat-in kitchen. Replace the sink and faucet if it is old. Update the lighting. Smelly dingy bathrooms are a turn off. New paint, lighting and an updated vanity will impress buyers. Regrouting old tile will make it look like new.
9. Staging. There are professionals that will come in and arrange your furniture to maximize your space. Old ratty sofas should be move out. Clear out all unnecessary furniture. You want your home to flow and look comfortable, inviting and clutter free.
10. Set a realistic price. Pricing your home 1-2 percent less than similar homes in your area will help close the sale. The higher your price over comparable homes the longer it will sit on the market.
Start preparing your home for sale today and you will have a buyer in no time. Not only will you sell your home quicker but by following these 10 steps you will probably get more money than you would if you did nothing.
Tom Smith
http://www.articlesbase.com/advertising-articles/top-10-tips-for-selling-your-home-in-a-buyers-market-61520.html
Jun 29
I have a strange little landlord, from whom i rent a small one bedroom attic apartment on the third floor of a house. I have a decent sized bedroom (with out a real closet), a super duper small bathroom (barely big enough to navigate in, especially with the slanted ceiling, with no bath-just a small walk-in shower), & a kitchen. The kitchen is pretty small. I have a sink (it is hard to wash dishes with the slanted ceiling), a super small counter (which is hard to use because of the slanted ceiling), and a fridge. I created & decorated my own cabinets & for dishes, and use a bookshelf for a pantry. I have a small dining table in there as well. I went into detail as of the size for the last part of the question at the end.
My point thus far is that the place is already pretty tight in space, but i make it work. The reason i had justified it so far is, that, like i said, the bedroom is a decent size, the rent is pretty cheap, and i have hardly any sort of bug problems (which is very important to me).
My problem is my landlord. He has been a really nice guy, though kind of weird. When i first looked at this place, i told him, that if i move here, you can’t be dropping by all the time, and knocking on my door . I rent from you-that’s it. You are not my dad, boss, or friend. The last place i lived in, he landlord dropped by a lot, sometimes entering with his own key, if i didn’t answer the door or phone. And he had no reason. I payed my rent on time & everything. He was crazy. So i made sure my current landlord knew that this type of behavior was purely unacceptable, & illegal from the start, before i agreed.
Okay, so he is really friendly with me. Just the other day, he said i am gorgeous when i answered the door, and started blushing hardcore. That alone does not bother me. But ever since i move here over a year ago, he is always “working on something” right outside my door. So he constantly makes noise, but that doesn’t bother me as much as the fact that he is constantly right outside my door! And he justifies it because of his “projects” that NEVER STOP! Once one is done, it is time for ANOTHER! and ANOTHER!
So, i have been thinking, great! now he has done everything that he can do! Now he will hang out at his house or some one else’s house, & i will have privacy….But NO-the plot thickens. Now, he wants to TEAR down part of my very small apartment to create an “office” for himself. An “OFFICE”???? It would be a very small office, and what would he do there? I can picture him now, sitting at his little desk, waiting for his cell to ring. This is ridiculous. He wants to sit right outside my door, and have a permanent excuse to be near me. Aye yie yie. Why does he want an office on the third floor of an attic next to a tenant??? This is unacceptable. This means, practically every time i walk out my door i could see him. No privacy. If i have guests over, we will walk by my little landlord and make introductions. He will be able to hear us talk through the thin walls. What if i get a boyfriend/husband & want to have wild, hot sex… he will hear us having orgasms. Is this not inappropriate/strange?
When i see him he keeps telling me about his plan, so i avoid him. He calls, knocks on the door-you name it. The other day, I answered my door in my towel & hair dye in my hair, & he just walks in & starts talking about his plan. I had to tell him, look this is not a good time. I have told him, that it would not work because, as it it i am tight on space. Then he says, he would create storage OUTSIDE my apartment. I don’t need storage - i need living space. i don’t want to have to walk out of my apartment by his little office every time i make something to eat by grabbing food & a dish to eat on. He has already started the construction on his office (it is very noisy by the way), but i am avoiding him because he doesn’t listen. I am also thinking, what will it be like when he tears open my apartment? My walls will be open? This is crazy. I know there has to be a law against this? Has anyone had an experience like this or happen to know anything about this that might help me? I am planning on moving but can not afford to at the very second.
One other weird thing about this landlord is that sometimes if i don’t answer the door he just walks in to access the water heater. Last time, fortunately i had the bedroom door closed, but what if i was naked or in the shower or something else personal?? I have a problem with my landlord seeing me naked &/or hearing/seeing my personal life. Other than all of this weird behavior, i like him, but I have to do something, & quick about this tearing down the walls for an “office” thing.
To those of you who think "it is his property, and he can do as he wants" - THINK AGAIN. i PAY him, for this space - NOT the other way around. When i pay him for the space - the duration of the lease - it is MY space & MY home - he has under no circumstances NO RIGHT to enter with out MY PERMISSION.. I already know this. And he has NO right to tear down space that is already agreed as MNE when i agreed to live here. In addition, him taking more space would make the place inhabitable. I obviously want to move but it is NOT an option right now. I need advice - not ridiclous "answers" that don't even make sense. Those kind of answers you would not be giving yourself if this was YOUR situation, so don't bother saying stupid things like that to me. I am not an idiot who will believe it.
Thank you, to those of you who really care & are intelligent.
Imaginary scenarios? the walls are thin. I can hear what he says & does on the other side of the wall, so logically HE hears what i say & do. It isn't rocket science or "imaginary"! He does walk in and could walk in on me dressing or anything else personal. For a grandmother, mother, & wife of 44 yrs - you clearly could not be dumber. How naive. I am amazed by the idiots out here on yahoo, looking to verbally assault rather than help. And the reason i specified my privacy before hand obviously is because i HAVE had this happen before, like i specified, and wanted to make sure he understands that it is illegal. I have never made sure any one else understood & they did it. So, no, i didnt cause this to happen by making sure he understood my stance on it. Moron. That does not make the least bit of sense.
First thing is get a second lock and use it whenever you are home. He may not walk in at his convenience. Ever! It sounds like you do have a written lease, so he may not reduce your living space. Only after the lease expires and re-negotiation may he do anything other then required maintenance. And then only scheduled in advance with your approval. I see others have touched on just how creepy this guy is. I will only reinforce that perception. You need to look carefully for spyware and peep holes. If this guy is up to what I think he is, you have criminal grounds to have him arrested. Then you can own the building and move downstairs into the nicer areas of the house. Of course, only after you fumigate the place to remove all hints of this perv.
Jun 29
I have heard that when medicines are kept in a cabinet in bathroom that the steam and heat from showers can affect the potency or efficiency of the medicine.
Just take them to a pharmacy and ask the pharmacist. That would be the easiest way.
Jun 29
Not including the countertop, they are 30" high, too low for me. My plan is to upgrade the countertop (will be laminate), 2 sinks, 2 faucets. Cabinets are in good condition, and would rather not replace them because they were installed on subfloor, then ceramic floor tile was laid around them. There is a 38" low-wall anchoring the far end.
Is there a way to raise the cabinet height 2" to 3" without it looking jerrybuilt?
This is an easy one! Remove the vanities, raise the toe-kick with 1X material (pine is fine) of width that will raise cabinets to height you want…make sure it is recessed ….that is why it is called a toe kick. Paint flat black, reinstall vanities with new toe-kick and you are in business. Good luck (toe kick is the wood base your cabinets are now sitting on to raise them about 3-4" off floor, just raise 6-8"…you will never notice it.
Jun 29
Lysha poked the sizzling bacon with a fork and glanced at Miku. Any other person would have thought him to be looking at her eyes but she knew him better than that.
She sighed. “You’re thirsty, aren’t you?”
He gave a slight nod, looking at the kitchen floor now.
Lysha took the bacon off of the stove and walked over to him. She flipped her long blonde hair over one shoulder and held it with her hand.
“Lysha, I can’t!” Miku protested. “I’ve taken too much from you as it is!”
“Just don’t use venom and I’ll be fine,” she replied, leaning closer to his mouth.
Miku hesitated for a minute before his thirst took over. He pressed his lips to her bare neck, feeling the blood pulsing through her veins. Ever so slightly his lips parted, revealing razor sharp fangs. Miku’s hand slid up to hold her shoulders down.
“Don’t forget to stop me,” he instructed.
Lysha gasped lightly as she felt his fangs puncture her skin. No matter how many times he did this, it would always take her by surprize.
Her breathing remained normal for a few moments then began to quicken. Soon her head was spinning, making everything out of focus.
“Miku, enough,” she told him. She waited for his hands to release her. Now Lysha wasn’t feeling well. “Miku, stop! You’re hurting me!” she screamed. Miku’s hands were suddenly off of her and his head was up.
Lysha stood and swayed. She could do nothing as she felt her body and eyelips drift towards the floor.
“Ly, NO!” Miku shouted. He was on the ground, holding her unconsious body in his arms. “I should have never bit you!” What have I done?
Her breathing was fast and her heartbeat was faster than normal. He looked at his hands, they were covered in her blood. Miku applied a light yet steady pressure to the puncture marks he had left. Stop! Stop bleeding Lysha. You have to stop bleeding! The blood finally ceased to flow.
He cradled her in his arms as he sprinted to the bathroom. Miku set Lysha gently on the floor and threw her medicine cabinet doors open, breaking them off the hinges. He threw the doors into the bathtub along with everything he began to toss out. His hands finally came upon the gauze he was looking for.
“It’s going to be okay Ly,” he whispered for his own comfort. Miku sat on the floor next to her and began to fashion a bandage. He bunched a wad of gauze against the fang wounds and wrapped her neck in more gauze.
I am such a monster!! he screamed in his mind. To hurt the one I love the most! He sat with her in his lap for a minute before picking her up and taking her to their bed. After he put her under the blanket, he went into the living room.
“Why did I bite her in the first place?” He punched the wall, breaking a hole in it. “Ugh!” He hit the wall again, making another hole. Miku sat in a corner of the room and bit his right hand, ripping his fangs through the skin. He took his mouth off his hand and unsheathed his claws, dragging them across the wall.
NOTE: Will post on writerscafe.org if people want me to publish it somewhere so they can keep tabs on it.
My WC name is Jordyn A. Ruhter
I already gave you input on the story (though you have expanded it here, with more detail–good job).
Now, on to your second question. Are you passionate about writing? Are you passionate about this story? If you are, then keep writing it regardless of when people on Yahoo Answers tell you. Writing is a work of passion. If you do not have that driving force, then you should stop, but if you do then keep writing no matter what.
Jun 27
on average. how much per month do utilities cost?
I'm looking at an apartment and this is what it says:
The one bedroom apartments are 940 sqare feet (see a layout below), and include a large living/dining room area. The very full-featured kitchen boasts these amenities:
- in-sink garbage disposal,
- dishwasher,
- large refrigerator,
- gas range/cooktop with fan/light hood,
- and a good-sized pantry!
The cabinets are of beautiful oak construction, with lots of storage space.
There is also a cozy den down the hall. The private bedroom features a half-bath and spacious walk-in closet.
Each unit offers a central vacuum system, as well as central (gas) heat and air conditioning.
There are ceiling fans in every room to help provide comfort in all seasons. Oh, and cable TV and phone plugs are in every room as well, for your convenience.
Utilities are completely separate for each apartment. The circuit-breaker box and hot water heater for your unit are in your apartment, for your convenience!
The full bathroom is in the hallway, between the kitchen and the den, making it easy to get to from anywhere in the apartment. The shower is at step-in height, for easy access.
There are coin-laundry facilities on each floor in the eight unit buildings as well.
______________________________
that costs 750/month for the apartment which is 940 square feet
there is a 2 bedroom apartment for less money because of the space it has (740 per square feet)
http://www.oehlertrentals.com/index.html
that is the website
I am allowed 2 pets of any size except for pit bulls
which is a huge reason why I am wanting this apartment
it used to be for old people. but now its for anyone
about how much money should I make per month to support myself, my great dane, and in the far future-possibly an english mastiff
I do not need television. and I will have a laptop. so I would need internet for that.
thanks everyone!!
and any advice would be GREAT!
my dane comes to work with me
she really doesnt need much space. she's super lazy
she'll fit just fine there
I'm in IL
I don't think I'll use the dishwasher very much.
I'm only moving out because my dane and my boxer arent getting along. at all. and it will only get worse as they age
If I don't get out soon. I would need to rehome one
I'll probably go to eat with my family quite a bit too. since they will only be 5 minutes away.
Before you do any type of lease signing, talk to neighbors in each of the blocks, ask them how often the police are called, what type of pets their neighbors have, the type of people the apartments rent to, ask anything and everything.
The apartment owners will show you this great face, and three months after moving in all hell will break lose.
I'll give you what I paid per month for a one bedroom apartment with a fenced in yard.
Rent: $620 per month
That $620 covered water & gas, "yard fees", and the extra $50 to have dogs.
Electricity: $35-$50 per month
Our apartment came furnished with a medium fridge, gas stove/range, walk-in closet, 8×12 privacy fenced yard with patio, and we could own any breed of dog but the given list ["dangerous", but as a rescue it was waived for me].
I personally will never set foot in another apartment complex again.
