Laying It Down: Wood Floors

If it seems as if installing hardwood floors is something that should be left to the pros, you might be right. If you want to include complicated angles or a herringbone pattern, hiring installers could be your best bet. However, if you are doing a straightforward layout with interlocking planks, perhaps you could conquer the task yourself. Here’s everything you need to know before you get started on the project.

Materials
Gone are the days of the narrow oak plants you used to see in turn-of-the-century homes. These days, wider planks and larger pieces of wood in general are the norm. Fewer seams in a living space make the room seem bigger, it seems, so that’s the way manufacturers are leaning. Another trend in natural wood floors is unfinished planks; that is, wood that is sanded and waxed but not shined to the high gloss of finished floors. Even painted planks or unusual wood colors such as grey have risen in popularity in recent years.

You Are Qualified for the Job

Hey folks! I am  back in the blogosphere. My recent travels  are over now. I  am actually back to work for over a week. I guess, I am still having a jetlag and at the moment I am not really feeling good with some colds and cough. I am quite tired right now but let me give you a quick update before I sign-off to dreamland.

Last August, I submitted an application for another job. This is quite a better job than what I am doing right now. I know and I believed I can do it since it is quite related to my degree and work experiences. As a banker and with a degree of  Bachelor of Science in Commerce majoring in Accounting, this job is really so easy compared to what I do before at the bank being a Branch Operation Assistant, in which I served as an Accountant at the branch I worked before.

Yesterday, I actually received  a letter saying that I am qualified for the job. This morning, I received  a call for an interview tomorrow. I hope and  pray that I will  get this job...in God's will..so help me Lord!

I am slowly off to bed now. I hope I feel better tomorrow  especially for the job interview.

Take care folks and until then.

Autumn is Here, Time to Turn On The Heater

The pellets oven  at home.

Hey folks! How are things going on out there in your part? I hope you are having a good start of the second BER months.  So far, so good for me and I am thankful about it.  How's the weather in your area right now? It is getting so cold in this part of the globe.  Now wonder October is here and this is the time of the year when fall or autumn starts, which also means  that the temperature is dropping from day to day.  This is also the time of the year when heaters are starting to be used. Indeed, winter season is inevitable and it is coming so soon.

This morning when I went outside to pick up some mint leaves (to mix for my green tea)  in the garden, I did not went out right away because it was really freezing cold.  I picked up and wore my jacket first, afraid of getting sick due to cold weather.

Since winter is almost approaching,  our heater is also slowly running. It is not so cold yet inside the house because since two weeks ago,  our heater is already turn-on during the night.  During day time, we turn it off to save heater bills. Besides nobody is home, unless I am free from work.

We are actually using two kinds of heaters during high winter season. One is an electric heater made of marble stones and the other one is a pellets oven.  There are actually electric heaters installed  in every room, from the dining room to the bedrooms, toilets, living room, working room  and the hallway.   The pellet over is located almost in the middle of the house and it is the only one that is running 24-hours a day during high winter season. For now, since it is not too cold inside the house, we only turn it on  during night  time.

The pellets oven  is really a good heating equipment since we started using it in 2009.  In fact, we already save some bucks every year since we use it. On the other hand, the electric heaters are only turn-on  when it is  really so cold inside the house.

I wish, I can  find  more time in sharing how we are trying to save for our heaters during winter season. That is all for now peeps. I wish everyone a wonderful and blessed month of October. Take care everyone!

The Three Elements of a Good Contractor

If you are considering renovating any part of your home, the first step to getting a project started is to find the renovation contractor you will be working with. How do you go about finding the right contractor for the project? You will have to do your research and make sure that you understand the bidding process. Here are three elements of a good contractor that you should always look for.

Licensing and References
Before you contact any contractor for a bid on your renovation project, it is extremely important to understand the licensing requirements in the area where you live. Then you will be able to check any potential contractors to see if they meet all of the local requirements to do the work your are requesting.

Along with licensing, you should also try to get a couple of references from people who have used them on their own renovation projects. This will give you a first-hand experience on how a typical project will go from start to finish.

Getting a Detailed Bid 
Bids can vary widely. Even the term 'bid' can mean different things to different contractors. To clear up any confusion, a good contractor will let you know whether the bid is a fixed price or an estimate of the work. This will help you with your budget and help to maintain an honest relationship between you and your contractor. To get your renovation budget in even better shape, you can ask your contractor for an itemized list so that you know the breakdown of the total cost.

Checking on Suppliers 
Another way to tell if you are hiring a quality contractor is to ask where your contractor is getting his materials for each job. Then you can go directly to the supplier to make sure that your contractor has a professional reputation within the industry. If a contractor is fair, pays his bills on time and is courteous to his suppliers, you should have no problem with your own renovation project.

While taking estimates, it is important to see how well you and the contractor communicate. If they are difficult when answering questions, the process of working with them may also become difficult.

Enjoying Your Passion for All Things Boating

When boating is your life, you may want to surround yourself with items that remind you of your time out on the water. You can decorate your home or office with marina-related objects when you shop now online. The online store has a variety of boating decorations that can be put in any room of your home. These items can also also be used to decorate your boat if you prefer. To get an idea of what boating decorations await you on the Internet, you can browse the website at your leisure and find wall hangings, clocks, and more for sale.

While the items could be used in your home, they also serve a practical purpose in keeping you safe on your boat. For example, a proficient sailor must know the temperature and wind direction at all times. You may be unable to rely on your electronic devices like your cell phone and tablet for these readings. You can keep watch of these measurements the old-fashioned way by installing a thermostat and a wing gauge on your boat.

You also want to know what direction you are headed at all times. While you may have sophisticated equipment on board for this purpose, you never know when this equipment will fail. Rather than risk an electrical failure or the weather knocking your directional readings out of whack, you can always tell in what direction you are headed with a compass that you can buy online.

These items can come in handy on your boat. However, they also serve just as well in your home or office. They also recall your passion for boating and heading out onto the water. Along with selecting boat-related decorations, you can also find other boating supplies that you will need for your next excursion. If you want to stay replenished and hydrated while boating, you may invest in some of the snacks, beverages, and supplements found on the website. These food choices allow you to enjoy a flavorful snack until you arrive back at shore. You can also keep your boat in good condition with squeegees, wax, and other maintenance items that will remove debris and keep your boat shiny.

You also want to safeguard your passengers and you at all times. You can find life jackets, fire extinguishers, flares, and more by shopping on this website that is dedicated to boating.

A Wonderful Start of the Harvest Month

 Goodbye lovely July and hello beautiful August! Finally my most favorite month of harvest is here. I  am always thankful to July and the other past month of 2015. There were just a lot of wonderful things that did happened this year. What else can I say but to express my gratefulness for everything.

Thanks God for the wonderful first two days of my fave month of August. I was able to spent time with lovely people, friends and talked to my family back home. Life is too short to complain and think of problems. Be grateful everyday especially for the blessings of waking up every morning. Others don't have the chance to experience the world anymore.

Thanks God especially for the greatest gift you had given us, the gift of life to experience the beauty of this planet. To each and everyone especially to my family, relatives and friends  near and far, I wish you all a great and blessed month of August! Good health, love and happiness to one and all! God bless and live life to the fullest!

Plants and Flowers in the Garden Needs Rain

Hello folks! How's everyone doing? I hope you are having a wonderful start of the seventh month of the year.  So far, so good for me and I am grateful about it.  There is only one thing I wish to pour down and it is rain.

Pink Roses look  great after the rain last month.  It was still not so hot during the first week up to the third  week of June.

The weather is really hot this week. It seems that Sahara loves to visit us and gives us  hot summer.  Temperature ranges  up to 39 degree Celsius  the past days in and around our place. I am really sad everytime I see some plants and flowers dying in the backyard.

Red Dianthus in the garden. I have other colors  also like pink and white.

I am watering it everyday but due to the tremendous heat, some plants are getting bad and are dying. The flowers that are currently blooming are also getting dry so fast. Usually some flowers takes for a week to remain in bloom but this heat  really is shorting its blooming for some days only.

Yellow Lilium flowers. Some are gone now.

I hope rain will pour soon to keep the  garden alive and kicking again.  Watering it everyday will not equal the amount of  water that is coming from the  rain. I am crossing my fingers..so help me God and send your rain please!

I wish everyone a wonderful week ahead and a great month of July. Take care folks and have a good time!

What Traits Define A Great Jewelry Refining Group?

These days, many individuals are interested in getting their jewelry in absolutely amazing condition. Yet while many of these individuals note that a jewelry refining group can enact this process, they don't know how to find the best company on the block. Typically, there are several key traits that an excellent, expedient jewelry refining group will possess. Here are three:

1. Experience In The Jewelry Refining Industry.

Industry experience is paramount in the world of jewelry refining. In short, companies that have operated successfully for at least ten years tend to have acquired the type of extensive product and process knowledge necessary to expedite your shopping process. When you start looking for the ideal refiner, keep the professionals of Jewelers Refining Group, Inc. in mind. Ever since 1996, the company has operated in excellence and put the needs and concerns of the client first.

2. Diverse Services.

In addition to seeking a jewelry refiner with industry experience, seek one that offers diverse services. Doing so is important because your jewelry products may need to undergo several refining processes in order to get them in optimal, exceptional condition. Some of the great services that the ideal service provider will offer include refining services, recovery services, stone removal, fire assay, and consulting.

3. Amazing Customer Service.

Although many jewelry owners place primacy on how effective a company's refining services are, they oftentimes overlook the importance of customer service. Don't make this mistake. When you select a jewelry refining company that offers personalized services and truly cares about treating you with respect and courtesy, the quality of your consumer experience increases exponentially. With this idea in mind, be sure to do a bit of online research to determine whether a jewelry refining company is known for offering clients the exceptional customer service they need and deserve.

Conclusion

If you're ready to get your jewelry in absolutely amazing condition, you should know that having it refined professionally can help you realize your objective. To ensure that you select the best service provider out there, be sure that the company has industry experience, offers diverse services, and is known for providing consumers with excellent customer service. Good luck!