I ♥ Shopping - Fireplaces

It's that time of year...the time when I want to start deep-cleaning my home for spring and rearranging furniture, moving artwork around and creating a new and comfortable space.  This year, I have to decide whether I want to convert my Den into a Guest Room...or if I want to get those 2 new Recliners for my Keeping Room [yes, I have one, off my Hearth Kitchen]...it used to be my Dining Room!  Then there's one other thing...It's adding a fireplace to my Keeping Room.  No, I'm not going to do brick and mortar, wood burning or even a gas fireplace.  That would be too great an expense and alot of trouble.  I'd be happy with an Electric Fireplace.  You know they're not like they used to be umpteen years ago.  They look so realistic...and with a "crackler" that you can purchase, you get the sound of a burning fireplace.

Well, the fireplace is winning so far.  I've looked and checked them all out.  There are 2 basic types of electric fireplaces you can get.  One IS the Basic Electric...and then there is the Infrared Electric.  The Basic can heat a room of about 400 square feet to make it comfortable when it's cold outside.  The other can heat 1,000 square feet.  There are different types of flames to consider.  Then the size of the fireplace and the size of the insert.  Well, these are a few that I found that I thought were really pretty.  I'm not going to tell you my favorite.  Why?  Because I can't decide right now!!

 

And it my further searches, I've been looking at Media Centers too...and I really like both of these...

I need to narrow down the look, color and price to what I want, so that I can get it ordered. Which ones do you like?

These fireplaces with mantels were found here. 

I ♥ Shopping - Lights Part 2

Alot of things are changing around my home.  Little by little, I have completed several projects...which I will begin showing soon.  The last one I completed was New Lights & Ceiling Fans installed in my home.  Tha was a few weeks ago and just in case you missed that post, you can read that post here.

After installing the new chandelier [above] over my Kitchen island, I decided it wasn't going to work...so I began looking for a new one.  It didn't work because it looked way more rustic than in the photo.  Also the tea-stain glass shades are more yellow than tea-stain - something I didn't like at all.  I also had to find out when/if/how much it would cost to have my electrician come back to install the new one.  Then I would have to get a Return authorization, to send it back to where I purchased it.

I did have fun looking again for a chandelier.  I knew I wanted bigger - both taller and wider - even just a little bit.  I knew I didn't want yellow shades.  I knew I definitely still wanted Bronze.  I spent several hours one night scouring lighting sites and finally found the perfect light.  It arrived today.  I opened it up and realized I had to put the light together.  It has alot of extra parts that make it so beautiful...so I got busy.  To say I love the new chandelier is putting it mildly.  The shades are so much prettier and bigger...and the new chandelier is an uplit one, unlike the previous one.

Here is the brand new Chandelier - it will be installed sometime next week.

Royal Bronze Coricelli 6 Light Single Tier Chandelier with Glass Shades

What a beauty!!  It even has 6 lights!  I can't wait for installation day!

So, did you ever purchase something and after you've installed/painted/worked on it for a while...decided you had the wrong thing and had to re-purchase something else and send the other back?  I don't do that often, but this was definitely a must.  And I'm so glad I did it.

Have a great weekend!!

Update...On Flooring

Remember my New Vinyl Flooring with all of the mini-speed bumps?  What a problem - in every room that the new vinyl was installed.  I notified the company who installed it and a couple of reps have been out with one of the owners of the store.  But I've been left waiting for answers.

If you missed my post about this, you can see it here.

As I compiled that post last Thursday, I prayed that I would get an answer...soon.  I'd been waiting 2 weeks for one.  And nothing.

But Friday, in the afternoon, I got a call from someone whose voice I didn't recognize.  That's because it was the OWNER, the man who started the company some 50 years ago.  He said he'd left a message for the Regional laminate rep and expects him to get back to him by mid-weed this week.  They will schedule a time that he, the owner and one other person from the store will come to my house to cut apart my vinyl in my Laundry Room, to see exactly what the problem is.  YEAH!  I know things move slowly, but things are moving along.  

The owner apologized for the mishap with the vinyl and he made made a promise that I shouldn't worry, he will see to it that I'm happy with my new flooring.  He said he's NEVER left a customer unhappy and he wasn't going to start now.  We had a nice conversation...and I can't wait to meet him.

Now...I choose to believe that God answered my prayer.  I don't know HOW He did that, but He did.  Do you think He used my post from Thursday?  Could they have somehow read it?  Or heard about it?  I don't know.  All I do know is that God works in mysterious ways and I'm so happy about it!!!

New Flooring

Some of you may remember that I had installed Laminate Flooring within months of the date I moved into this home - which was 10 years ago.  [the first 3 pix are of my Kitchen and Laminate the way it looked 10 years ago]  There was vinyl installed when it was built, but due to improper installation, not being attached around the entire perimeter - especially by heat vents, the vinyl stretched and actually ballooned up off the floor when the heat was initially turned on in the house.  The stretching couldn't be taken care of...so I made a deal with them to issue me a credit [and I got what I thought was a very good amount] so I could buy and install the laminate.

It looked pretty......initially.  I didn't like the fake wood quarter round molding that was used - it was foam...and over time, it would get chipped...and it wound up looking awful.  Then there was a leak under the sink that I wasn't aware of and the person that knew it was there, never mentioned it to me.  I discovered it one day when I walked through the kitchen and nearly slipped on the water.  It was then that I knew there was a problem and saw the damage that had already occurred to the laminate.  Called a plumber to take care of the leak but the damage was done.  About a 7 foot wide swath of laminate was splitting and warping.  I lived with that for 4 years.  

Then I decided it was time for a change.

Since I live in a manufactured home, I decided I didn't want to over-improve, since these houses don't hold their value.  My home could have been put on a foundation, I could have had a basement if I so desired, but instead decided to put my house on a lot in a Manufactured home park...which I love.

So, I decided to look at Vinyl.  It would be perfect with my Pups [they are getting older and the oldest has already had some problems due to age] and any future water leaks.  It was also durable.  While the cost wasn't a whole lot less than some other materials, I just preferred it.  

I chose Mannington [with a 25 year warranty] from a company I'd dealt with before - in Lambertville, Mi - the next town away from me.  I needed underlayment and they assured me they had the best and after reading about it on the internet, I thought it sounded great too.  And I found something that went with everything else going on in my home too.  I chose Bagota, Coffee Bean.  It has lots of texture and many different colors and shades of colors in it.  It also had a small diamond in the middle of every four tiles...it's gorgeous.  And it "feels" warmer, not physically warmer than the laminate, but feels warmer with the colors.,,than the cold, shiny laminate.

Here it is in a sample kitchen. 

It was installed somewhere around the 2nd week of November 2016.  Within 4 weeks I began to have problems with "crackling" and "popping" as I walked over it.  Then I began seeing "baby speed bumps" in the vinyl.  Not just one or two, but several and more as time has gone on.  Of course, I called Townsend Carpeting [no website] early in December and they came out after the holidays to check on what was happening.  Since then, the owner has been here with the Mannington Vinyl Rep and the Matrixx Underlayment Rep.  The last visit was 2 weeks ago.  I called again today and the owner's wife wasn't in...so I will be calling again on Monday.

On the internet, I learned that the speed bumps are actually called Telegraphing Seams.

*Causes of Telegraphing Seams and Panel Blow-Through

In our 50 plus years of experience, the majority of underlayment flooring failures are due to telegraphing seams and fastener blow-through. Telegraphing seams and fastener blow-through are always the result of incorrect installation. They are not caused by panel failure. There are many factors that can cause telegraphing seams. These are the most common:

• The use of too much seam filler
• Not allowing the seam filler to dry sufficiently
• Not sanding the seam filler smooth and even with the plywood underlayment
• Panels being butted too tightly together
• Panels not properly acclimated
• Too high moisture content in flooring environment
• Uneven subfloors
• Placing the fasteners more than 1/2" from the edges of the panels
• Inconsistent fastener depth and blow-through along the edges of the panels

Fastener blow-through is caused by not properly adjusting the drive depth or air pressure in your staple or nail gun, which can result in shooting the fastener completely through the underlayment. Nothing short of physical plywood failure such as delamination will be warranted with regard to telegraphing seams.

Pardon the glare, but you have to look sideways on the floor to see all of the speed bumps.

These photos are of my actual flooring...which is in the Laundry, Sitting Room, Kitchen, Office and 2 Bathrooms.  Notice the lines...some are worse than others.  They've all gotten worse and new ones keep coming with time that passes.  

It just makes me sick.  All the money I paid...and 6 days of having the 2 old "supposed to be retired" guys [who complained alot] install it, making a mess every single step of the way.  I did get a bit of a credit, because they wrecked my painted walls nearly everywhere they went.  And they chipped a big chunk out of laminate countertop.

 I hope that very soon, this will be taken care of.  I just have to keep in touch with them.

It's such a shame, I love the flooring...it looks beautiful, that is, until you see the speed bumps.  When it is replaced, I want to know what they're doing in order to avoid the same thing from happening again.  I'll keep updating as it makes progress.

I ♥ Shopping - Lights Part 1

 Welcome to Week #3 of ...

This past week, I began looking for a few new lights and ceiling fans for my house.  The outside of my house is Grey and since I live in a Manufactured Home, it has white skirting.  There are white shutters, white trim and white doors [doors may be painted a new color when the weather warms up].   The outside lights needed to be white, to match the other exterior colors.  And I want a light that didn't have a high top to it, so that it would be easier to change lightbulbs.  This is similar to what I already have and it is hung where the top is quite a bit above my door frame.

This is what I selected...see how most of the light hangs down below where it's mounted as opposed to above where it's mounted.  I figured this would give me more light, too.  Besides that this new light takes 100 watt light bulbs, where the old one took 60 watt light bulbs.  I'm getting these as my first NEW lights, since one is not working currently...and another has a broken glass insert.

It doesn't matter what your lighting style is, or what color it is, what the size of it is or even where it goes...we all need lights in our house...don't we?  There are different types of lighting for different tasks and moods we want to create...there is different "watt" lighting..and then there are the different bulbs you select for lighting.

Me?  I like to stick with rather traditional lighting...it fits my style!  I love Bronze, because to me it feels warm...and has a glow to it.  My home is nearly TOTAL open concept where when I'm in 1 room, I can see at least 5 other rooms in my house. There are 9 rooms total in my house which total about 1650 square feet.  So when I start looking I pick a main focal point light and select that first.  For me that's the Chandelier over my Kitchen center Island.  It serves alot of functions, including bright work light that floods my kitchen, task lighting, when I'm preparing something on the island and also mood lighting, for which I have a dimmer switch.  I like this chandelier, it's the right size for the room and the right color.  It takes 5-100 watt lights, which is adequate for lighting for every task...and when dimmed with be beautiful for any mood.  The shades are a Tea dye color.  I wanted down lighting this time...and I think this will be perfect.

 I already have a few ceiling lights, just like this one, so I will be getting several additional ones to replace some lights that hadn't been changed or needed updating.  It's a cut and frosted glass and takes 2-60 watt light bulbs.  Again, it's bronze with some silvery accents and is traditional in style.  [I have door hardware that is silver in color...so this light blends the two colors.

 I am tired of Vanity Lights that have the lights tilted, so they shine on your face, rather than down over the mirror.  The light bulbs in my old tilted Vanity lights created glare and lines, shadows and wrinkles I don't need.  So this downlight Bronze Vanity Light will be beautiful.  It's also larger side to side than my old ones...so it will more adequately distribute the light.  The Master Bath has 2 Lights and the Guest Bath has just one.  They take 3-60 watt light bulbs.  To make it less jarring light-wise for those night time trips to the bathroom, I have a dimmer installed on them.

 Now, for ceiling fans.  I love them and wouldn't be without any of my 4 ceiling fans.  One of my old ceiling fans, the one in the center of my house in the Great Room just stopping working a few weeks ago, so I thought it was time to replace it.  Now, I do prefer Hunter fans...I just like them.  Of course they have to be big enough to move enough air in each room...and all my rooms either definitely need a 52" fan or can handle one.  Then they have to be bronze, with dark blades that are reversible [to be of help in summer and in winter, easing air conditioning and heating bills] and this time, like the Vanity Lights with the tilted lights, I didn't want them on my fans either.  So I needed a "dish" light.  This one takes 3-60 watt candleabra base bulbs.  That's adequate when I need to vacuum on a cloudy day or to see what I'm doing dusting at night.  I seldom use the lights any other time...but I wanted them.  This particular Hunter fan didn't come with a remote, but it's adaptable to their remotes, so I can get remotes if I so desire.   

  The last thing you need to consider when replacing light fixtures and ceiling fans is Who will be installing them?  I considered the store where I purchased them, but ended up with a local Master Electrician who I found on HomeAdvisor.com  I've used Home Advisor and Thumbtack.com a number of times, for many different reasons over the past 2 years...for everything from Lawn Care, Tile Setter, & Painter to Master Electrician.  I've had a great experience in each case. 

What types of lighting do you like?  Do you like ceiling fans?  What style?

Tuesday Talk

Come join me for Tuesday Talk [once a month - during the last week of the month], where I will share something special with you, that I found during the week, that will start us Talking.   Use your imagination...and so will I.

These photo really Talked to me!  How about you?

He is always there, through thick or thin, good times and bad...waiting for you to turn to Him.  Why not do that very thing today.  Turn to Him and pour your ♥ out to Him.  He loves You!

I ♥ Shopping - Mugs

Welcome to I ♥ Shopping #2!

I've looked and looked for a Dog Paw Mug and finally found one that I really LOVED.  I've gotten mugs from Marie before...all of them [6 now] are beautiful.  She ships quickly too.

You can find Marie at her Etsy Shop...

This is Marie.  She is a full time Potter and has the cutest Pottery Studio in her backyard. 

Marie Kennedy, Owner

The Throwing Shop

[all photos are from Marie's shop listing]

I love the color and the graphics on this cute mug.  It even has a thumb rest, right above the handle.

This is the listing for this mug:

Hand thrown turquoise paw print love mug from white stoneware clay with an amazing crackle turquoise glaze over a glossy white base. This will quickly become the first mug you reach for every day, and the first mug you gift to all of your pet loving friends as well.

Please remember that each of my mugs are handmade and therefore will not all be exactly the same.

*This listing is for one mug

*The mug you receive will be similar to the mug shown.

*Holds approximately: 14oz
*Food, dishwasher and microwave safe
*Hand washing is always preferred for any handmade clay piece
*Handmade in the USA

Please stop by and visit her shop and see all the lovely things she has to offer.

Marie Kennedy at

The Throwing Shop

My Snowflake Afghan - 5 Years in the Making

 About 5 years ago, I started crocheting the snowflakes for this Afghan.  I used Loops & Threads Dewdrop Yarn that has mohair and sequins in it.  I thought the sequins would really give the look of a frozen, sparkly snowflake...and it did.  Then I got Bell's Palsy and since my eye couldn't close or blink, I wasn't able to work with mohair yarn, because it would get in my eye.  So, I waited...and waited some more to get started - about a year.

 That's when my Bell's Palsy was better and I felt I could work on it.  But other things were taking over my life, so it got put away again.  You know, when someone [in my case, my spouse] has Alzheimer's, your life suddenly isn't yours anymore.  So I did what I had to do and what I could do. Then, early in 2015, he up and left.  He's been gone nearly 2 years...and no contact at all.

 But, I have gone on with my life.  Or, maybe I should say, I began my life over and am building a new life.  I've lost 101#, gotten healthy and fit...I've gotten active, taking walks, going to church and getting involved with activities.  I've been doing things that would have stopped me dead in my tracks a year ago.  Things I just couldn't do...or I was afraid to do. [like moving 10-12 Tons of concrete block by myself over the summer!]

But, I'm happy and OK...well, really better than OK.  I'm doing fine.

 And as you can see, I picked up my crochet hook, needle and yarn and finished this beautiful afghan.  I'm so glad it's finally done.  I used to crochet alot and sold the items in my Etsy and Artfire Shops.  Now I plan to only crochet when I want to.

This afghan is done in black Loops & Threads yarn...no sequins for the background.  The snowflakes and border are in White Dewdrop [by Loops & Threads] and it has mohair and sequins.  

The snowflakes are 8" across and the finished afghan, complete with the sequin encrusted border trim measures 68" x 45".  It's quite heavy, so I'm sure as I sip my tea, sitting in my rocking recliner with the pups, watching the real snowflakes fall this winter...I'll be nice and warm.