Inspiration Thursday

"You have to find something that you love enough to be able to take risks, jump over the hurdles and break through the brick walls that are always going to be placed in front of you.  If you don't have that kind of feeling for what it is you are doing, you'll stop at the first giant hurdle."

 - George Lucas. American Film Director and Producer, famous for Star Trek and Indiana Jones Trilogies.


"Really get in touch with what you believe.  Your belief in something is the magic spark needed to make it real.  You can believe things won't work out and they won't.  You can believe that abundance is your birthright and you will be proved correct.  Identify the beliefs that you have that are holding you back and day by day replace them with beliefs that push you forward.  Over time, having faith and taking action on your beliefs will bring around the life you have believed in.  The key is to have the faith that your belief is growing and to clear out all the weeds that prevent it's growth.  Keep the faith, your Heart never lies."

   - Jackson Kiddard


Here's to a great day!

Fun with Block and Fill Foundation

Slowly, slowly goes the house.....here is a photo from yesterday....

My client's house that was started the same week (mid-December) is already sheet rocking (in another neighborhood without the lot clearing issues....)

And it is getting "fancier".... I cannot believe I am actually typing this BUT EngineerHubby  is going to require he be at the block concrete "fill" with an infrared temperature gun to make sure the concrete goes to the bottom of the block.  It seems that concrete emits heat as it is poured, so this gun will allow my EngineerHubby to assure himself the concrete DOES go to the bottom of the block.   *insert crazy rolling eyes icon*  I'd bet no other builder would be entertaining such eccentricity...but for my employment... (This is more along the lines of "subcontract your own home and do what you want".....) Folks have asked if I'm getting a "gift" in my home since I work there (free upgrade somewhere for example)....well...I'd bet a million bucks my "gift" is their willingness to work with EngineerHubby and accommodate his special interests!  Ha!

Thermal Imaging

Fluke Website

Fluke Website

I SO do not want to be there when he tells the builder/my boss.  Holy moly.  As you can see, it is not ONLY lot issues that have slowed down this build!  Oh the fun things that can be borrowed from work.

19 yr old enjoyed testing out this gun with his dad....putting his hand on the wall, pulling it away and then "seeing" the heat signature in the gun.  Pointing the device at the dogs...their heads are the warmest with the brain activity.....

Here's hoping my boss doesn't get this info until AFTER our sales meeting this morning.....

$10 Credit at Rue La La!!

If you are a regular visitor to my blog, you have surely seen my love affair with Rue La La online boutique!

Well, guess what!!  Right now, if you join - Rue La La will give you a $10 credit to use on your first purchase!!!!  All you have to do is join (for FREE!) by February 14, 2012!!  I didn't even get that deal - how can you miss out on this???

Go ahead, don't miss out - click HERE!!! 

I have purchased clothing, shoes, beauty/makeup products, household items....endless possibilities..just have to wait to see what sales are upcoming.

Here is how it works:  You get a Rue La La daily email, showing what the sales are today.  If nothing hits your fancy, delete that email and wait for tomorrow.  At the bottom of each email shows the future few days and what upcoming sales are on their way.  You can then put a notice in your calendar to not forget - hate to miss out on those deals!  For me, I purchase things I normally buy somewhere else, except I get HUGE savings with Rue La La!

You'll thank me later!

Happy Birthday Honey

Happy Birthday to my wonderful Engineerhubby!!

I look forward to seeing him again when the house is finished.  HA!

Hardwood-Look Tile

Have you seen some of the new products that are actually ceramic or porcelain tile made to look like hardwood?  EngineerHubby has a colleague at work who just installed this in their home, so we went to check it out.  I had read online that it does have grout lines, so I was curious if it looked like tile or hardwood in person.  It was dark when we made it to their house, so my photos could be better.

They purchased an Emser Tile product called Heritage.

Color they chose was Golden Oak.

PDF Brochure for Product

If you look closely, you can see some texture...mimicking hand-scraped hardwood.  They said they were given a choice on grout color.

In the end, we decided against this product for ourselves....EngineerHubby would have gone for it (in the darker Walnut color) but I could not imagine what color grout would be needed to virtually eliminate those grout lines visually...chocolate brown?  (Hardwood flooring has no grout lines...the wood abuts each other.....)  I wonder if the tile could be closer together, making the grout lines less noticeable?

After a client put in a dark tile with chocolate grout, I knew without a doubt that is not for me.

Back to the hardwood look tile......

This couple has 2 huge dogs and they had just run through the house when we got there.  I didn't focus on those areas on the floor, but their wet paw prints were very noticeable...but easily wiped up, I'm sure.

She said a co-worker used her same installer and put in upgraded engineered hardwood...the tile product was more expensive.  That surprised me.

Would this "fool" you in to thinking it was hardwood?  I have looked online and a few other brands do a better job of mimicking the hardwood look, I think, but it is hard to tell just by photos.  With our builder,  this was our only option.  I am very glad I was able to go see this in person.

Anyone else have this in their home or has seen it in person?

Footing is Poured

Lot Progress

Well,  here come some exciting photos.....HA!  This is simply to keep our long-distance family updated..not because I find this incredibly stunning photography.  LOL

Since it is taking forever for our land to dry out, a block and fill foundation was decided on.  (Normally monolithic...).  Digging the footing now.

Post holes are dug in to reach solid ground to support the footing.  Ours are 3 to 10 feet deep.

This is concrete that has been poured into some of the post holes.  The footing will be laid on top of this.

I accompanied my husband to see him at lunch, but can't say I had a thrilled experience.  He, on the other hand, did.  lol

In other news, we have 62 more hour long episodes of Star Trek:  Enterprise and I'm actually enjoying it now.   Would never have guessed.  lol

P.S.  I am back to drinking "green" smoothies....but I am doing a better job of mixing it up and having different flavors.  I put "green" in parentheses because these are mostly NOT green....purple, red....lots of colors!    I am feeling FANTASTIC!  Also adding Acai powder, Cacao Nibs and Chia Seeds....whoa, talk about feeling full!





 

Could it be???

It has been snowing....freezing....never thought the ground would dry out enough to start.....

Yay!!