Soggy Sunday Morning

Warning the post contains random things that are floating around in this mixed up mind of mine. There is no rhyme or reason to this post. So please excuse the discombobulation.

It is a nice chilly and quite soggy sunday morning here in England. I think it is somewhere near 40 degrees outside and very cloudy. I think it must have rained earlier, but I wasn't awake to see that event. In any case I think most of my day is going to be spent indoors, not at the hotel hopefully, but indoors in any case. Yesterday we spent all day inside the hotel, well when we weren't hunting for the blue folder that has been lost in the mix of shuffling between here and D's house. There was nothing EXTREMELY important in the folder, it is just annoying to lose something and my husband got his OCD on and was hunting for it all day long.

Anyhoo, last night we were completely bored and not at all tired after the girls went to sleep. I suggested watching a movie, he wasn't feeling it. Next thing I know this game was on the computer screen. Flight of the Hamsters? Yes. I was in stitches laughing at this game. Concept of the game is to get the cute little goggle wearing hamster to fly as far as possible, using the rockets, hamster balls, and springs to your favor. I am serious folks.

Speaking of hamsters. I am not really a fan. I used to work in a pet store when I was in college and those little bastards are mean. When I used to place the food dish in the cage of the little Siberian Dwarf Hamsters, those little wolves would cirlcle my hand like it was a Christmas ham. I took to wearing a gardening glove when I would feed the hamsters in order to prevent their little rat razor teeth from biting me. I used to try to get people to buy gerbils instead of hamsters because I thought that the hamsters were so vile.

Couple of Things About England that I am Befuddled by:
-OK, I understand that their is a law that you can not have any type of drink while you are driving in England, but seriously, no cup holders? Last night I went to get dinner for my husband and I (the kids had had chicken nuggets) and I had 2 drinks to get home. I ended up carrying one drink between my legs and holding the other one on top of the emergency break while driving and hoping that I didn't A) spill either drink in my lap and in the rental car and B) wreck the rental car on the way back to the hotel. I made it back to the hotel with both car and cups intact but I couldn't help to think that this would have been a whole lot easier if there had been at least one cup holder.

-The toilets here have a button on the back of them to flush not a little handle on the side. I keep reaching for the side of the toilet to flush. Oh and some of the buttons are split in half. Push one half to do a little flush, push both to do a big flush. I guess 1 for #1 and 2 for #2.

I got an award from Mama Dawg over at Two Dogs Running. Thanks MD! This award apparently comes with rules. You know how I feel about rules, but since Mama asked nicely I will comply.



The qualifications to receive the award are:

A. Display a cheerful attitude. (Umm if you say so..)

B. Love one another. (I guess I can try..)

C. Make mistakes. (All the damn time)

D. Learn from others. (Why do you think I read so many blogs?)

E. Be a positive contributor to the blog world. (I am a contributor, not all of it is positive, but I contribute none the less)

F. Love life. (yes please!)

G. Love kids. (Mine yes, but sometimes only because the law says I have to)

The Rules:

1. Must link it back to the creator.
2. Post the rules.
3. Choose 5 people to give it to.
4. Recipients must fill the characteristics above.
5. Create a post to share this.
6. You must thank the winner.

The five people I give this to are, Tismee2 from Squared Off, Jenni from Oscarelli, Miss Grace from Miss Grace's Disgrace, Cameron over at Get The Stink Off and Cape Cod Gal from Diamond in the Rough.

Is this enough Sunday morning radomness for you guys. Good, I'm exhausted. Time for a nap.

Thanksgiving in England

I had a fabulous time celebrating Thanksgiving. The only thing that could have made it any better would have been if I was back home in Charleston, SC with the rest of my family or in Chattanooga with my Dad's side of the family. My friend D, prepared a feast. She had turkey, ham, green bean casserole, potato casserole, mashed potatoes, 2 types of stuffing (one English version with sausage and the other with oysters for her husband), candied yams, and of course I brought the pies (which nobody ate cause we were all too full of food).

There were 15 people in attendance. D and her husband M, their 2 kids, Alistair and his wife Melanie*, their 2 kids, N and L who work with D at the barbershop, The Man and I, KiKi and LaLa, and T (who's husband is in Texas right now for some Air Force school). Alistair, Melanie, N, and L are all English and this was their first Thanksgiving celebration.

Dinner started around 6pm in order for our English friends to get off of work in order to come over for dinner. Since this is an American holiday, of course they don't have the day off from work like all the Americans around here. There was a lot of good conversation, a few pints had by all (or wine), and of course the oohing and ahhing over the shere amount of food that was available. The kids had a great time playing together and when D broke out the ginormous bag of leftover Halloween sweets I thought all hell was going to break loose. Alistairs youngest girl is almost as hyperactive as LaLa and doesn't have an off switch. We added candy into this mix. Then we warned Alistair. His response was classic "Thanks for that" as he lifted his pint.

The celebration broke up around 9:30 and we caught a cab back to the hotel around 10:00pm. Thankfully the cabbie seemed very knowledgable of the base and took us directly to the hotel. We lugged all of our car seats, bags and children back to the room and then watched some American football on the Armed Forces Network. My husband and I caught most of the Dallas game and then a little bit of the Phillidelphia game. We ended up finally passing out around 2am.

I think this Thanksgiving proves one thing. It doesn't matter where you are in the world, as long as you have good food, good friends, and good conversation you can have a fabulous time. Also if you add a pint or two into the mix, it is always a good idea to catch a cab, no matter what country you are in. Happy Post Thanksgiving to Everyone! I hope you are all as blessed this holiday season as I have been. Cheers.

*Names have been changed to protect the innocent, or not so innocent depending on who you speak to.

101 Things about Me for my 101st post...

yeah I know I was "supposed" to do this yesterday for my 100th post, but I was a little busy. Cut me a break. Hey plus I am gonna give you an extra random fact.
1. Birthdate Feb 24
2. That makes me 27 years old.
3. My natural hair color is brown.
4. My hair color now is red. (sorry mom)
5. I have 2 kids. LaLa is 4. KiKi is 2.
6. I have a cat, Sam, he is orange and white.
7. I have a dog, Elizabeth, she is a blond cocker spaniel.
8. My favorite color is pink.
9. I am not one of those people who will only wear their favorite color, or decorates their house in their favorite color.
10. I think those people are kinds weird and may need help. Sorry if you are one of those people.
11. My husband is in the Air Force. I don't let my husbands job define me like some Air Force Wives though.
12. I just finished my degree in Technical Management with an emphasis in Human Resources.
13. I left traditional college when I was 21 years old and only had about 36 hours of courses left.
14. My original degree was going to be International Business with a minor in Russian Studies.
15. I thought my mom was going to kill me when I left school.
16. I moved to Texas to be with my husband..that is why I left school.
17. I had every intention to go back to school when we moved to Missouri, but then I found out I was pregnant.
18. 2 kids later and I finally went back to school.
19. Now that we are in England I am going to have to get a "real" job and not be a stay at home mom anymore.
20. I feel guilty that I am going to have to put KiKi in daycare.
21. But I am excited that I am going to be able to have conversations with adults during the day.
22. I love my children, but I have little patience with other people kids...well except for my friends kids, usually.
23. I think this is because I used to work in a daycare.
24. I also have worked at an accounting office for a senile old man.
25. He fired me on my birthday because he needed someone full time in the office and I could only work part time because of school.
26. My best friend is, D.
27. She is the yin to my yang. When I freak out, she talks me back off the ledge.
28. My husband is also my best friend. He is a little OCD and apparently moving brings out the OCD in him. He lost 62 cents the other day, and he is still looking for it. "What if I lost it on the flight line and it got sucked up into the engine of a plane" This is what I am dealing with folks! LOL!
29. My favorite soda in the entire world is Cherry Coke Zero. They don't have that here in England.
30. I am totally bummed out that they don't have Cherry Coke Zero here...not even at the commissary.
31. I have switched to Diet Dr. Pepper, but it just isn't the same.
32. Man, I sound like a drug addict.
33. I get weirded out by people who start crying in front of me.
34. I am really not good with emotions.
35. I also am not a hugger.
36. I only hug my family and really good friends unless there is a circumstance where I am forced to hug someone or look like a complete jerk.
37. I talk to my mom and my granny almost every single day. They get worried if I don't call at least every other day.
38. If I don't call them, I get worried messages left on my voicemail saying things like "Kat, it's your granny, I haven't heard from you in a couple of days, call me back." or "Kat, it's your mom. Where are you?" Or I check my cell phone and I have 9 missed calls from my mom in the span of 4 hours.
39. My mom and granny both read this blog. They will probably deny #38. It is true though.
40. My favorite moment of the day is catching one of my kids in bed and getting to wake them up gently and cuddle with them. LaLa is especially good at this. Of course then she will whisper "Tickle Me" when we are cuddling and it makes me laugh every time.
41. I miss my friends back in Missouri and my friends back in Charleston.
42. I am grateful for the friends who stay in touch.
43. I believe that a new hair cut, a new pair of shoes or a new purse can fix almost any problem.
44. I am really glad I got a hair cut yesterday. It came at the perfect time.
45. I am not good at worrying about money BTW.
46. I don't think my daughter should get gypped out of a really special birthday just because her birthday is 3 days before Christmas.
47. Christmas is my favorite holiday.
48. I think gifts are secondary to being with family or friends that you love.
49. This is only going to be the 2nd Christmas that I will not be in Charleston for. It sucks big time.
50. I am also praying that I have my own furniture before Christmas. Actually that in itself just might be a Christmas miracle.
51. My favorite Christmas song is "Sweet Little Jesus Boy"
52. My favorite Christmas song used to be "Oh Holy Night" until this girl at church kept butchering it every year for like 5 years. My mom and I would sit in the pew and try not to laugh every year. My granny would shoot us evil eye. Hey, you guys have your Christmas/Holiday traditions, I have mine.
53. I kinda like being 5 hours ahead of the Eastern time zone now, because it lets me write my blog posts in more time. I can post by 3 pm GMT and still have by post up by 7am eastern time. Booyah!
54. I am really needing that time today because this 101 facts is really time consuming.
55. The last book I read was "The Christmas Sweater" by Glenn Beck. I think everyone should read it. It had me crying on the plane on the way over here. It isn't just a tired old story about Christmas.
56. It is really hard to cry quietly on a plane and not be noticed. I really didn't want to look like a nut job. I apologize to any fellow passengers on the plane who I may have offended or scared.
57. I love riding on planes. I hate the safety briefing though. I mean really, do they think that I am actually going to use that seat cushion as a floatation device.
58. When I see someone pass me on the highway at double the speed limit I feel angry at them and bad for them. I have actually said "When they wreck they better hope they die, because they won't want to live after wrecking at that speed."
59. I try not to go more than 5 mph over the speed limit.
60. I think that is because I have kids now and I am more careful with everything I do now.
61. Before I had kids, I was a speed demon.
62. I no longer feel the need for an adrenaline rush. I value my life a lot more now.
63. I do get angry at people who don't at least DO the speed limit though.
64. I always seem to get stuck behind this person, when I am running late no less.
65. Sometimes my husband is THAT person. He blames it on having to drive 15 MPH on the flight line.
66. My favorite material possession is my engagement ring.
67. I use my parents and my grandparents as my moral compasses. I often think about what they would think before I do things. I still dyed my hair red. Sorry Mom.
68. My eyes are green.
69. I feel compelled to write something naughty right here, but I won't. That would be so cliche'.
70. My dream vacation destinations are Greece and Russia.
71. I think I will get to Greece one day. I am no so sure about Russia.
72. My favorite saying I heard on Oprah. It is "Trying is failing with honor. Never try, just do it."
73. I hate watching Oprah.
74. Have I ever mentioned that I am a conservative?
75. I didn't vote this year.
76. I feel guilty about not voting. I don't think my vote would have made a difference. I feel guilty about the apathy I had towards voting this year. I really didn't like either candidate very much.
77. Have I ever mentioned that I am glad that I will be living in England for the next 4 years.
78. I am not pissed off that Barak Obama won. I just hope he does the best job he can. I think partisanship has torn the US apart.
79. I am not a fan of Housing Offices on Air Force Bases. They always prove to be a pain in the ass. It doesn't matter what base you are on.
80. Arbitrary rules piss me off.
81. Sometimes I need a time out.
82. I think I am a better driver than my husband. He begs to differ.
83. I can drive stick shift. Sorta. If I have to.
84. I think it is a good skill to have, just in case.
85. I know how to do a lot of things in theory, but have never actually done them.
86. For example. I know how to mow grass. I just have never done it. That is what dads, little brothers and husbands, and good friends are for.
87. I know how to change a tire, in theory. See #86 for the reason I have never done it and add friendly bystanders as another reason.
89. My dad is hillarious and befuddles me with his logic sometimes. Hi Dad.
90. I like to visit my parents at their offices. It is fun to meet their co-workers or talk to the ones I already know. Hi Sandy.
91. My favorite movies are Labrynth, the Princess Bride, Shawn of the Dead, Grandma's Boy, and Army of Darkness.
92. I hate the movie Baseketball with a passion.
93. I will walk out of the room if my husband is watching it.
94. I will also remind him that he will never get that 2 hours of his life back.
95. I do not think pajama pants are acceptable attire for grocery shopping. Ever.
96. I prefer to wear my hair down and straight, but sometimes my hair has other ideas and that is when I throw it up into a ponytail.
97. My hair is naturally curly.
98. My eating habits are questionable. Sometimes I skip meals and then other times I eat everything in sight that isn't nailed down all day.
99. I love my kids more than myself. You guys probably already knew that.
100. I can usually write a blog post in 20 min, though they usually aren't very good when I write that fast.
101. I hate when I try to be witty or funny and end up just looking stupid. It happens. A lot.

Ok I feel I have satisfied my obligation as a blogger to spill my 100 facts about me now. Feel free to comment or discuss amongst yourselves.

Quick Funny Story

On our arrival to the UK we had to take a bus from Heathrow Airport to the RAF base that we are stationed at. The bus driver who drove us to the base was English and had a fairly heavy accent. Our friends had met us at the airport and they took the bus back with us. When we got on the bus LaLa did not understand what the driver was saying because she was not accustomed to hearing a British accent. She looked at our buddy, M, and asked him in a most serious tone "Is the driver speaking Spanish?"

Driving in England a.k.a. Roundabouts and Give Ways

I should really preface this entire story by saying, my husband does not deal with change well. He is very set in his ways, gets frustrated easily, and has high expectations of himself. In other words, God forbid something not go according to plan. I am very go with the flow, I like a challenge, and I see most everything as a learning experience and it takes a lot for me to lose my temper. I am not saying that my way is better than his way of learning, but at least I don't punch inanimate objects when I get frustrated. Just sayin'.

We had been here about 5 days when we decided that not having a car was just not an option anymore. Sure we could walk around the base, but in order to get to D's house we had to call her or her husband to come pick us up and frankly it was getting exhausting for all parties involved. I hate having to depend on others, she was getting behind in her everyday activities, and we couldn't fit all members of both families into one car.

Finally on Thursday my husband, the kids and I walked our behinds down the the local base car rental office and paid entirely too much money to rent a shoe on wheels, I mean car. We rented a VW Polo, with an automatic transmission and UK specs. In other words it has its steering wheel on the right hand side of the car.

Now at this point I have been riding with D all over the area for days. I am pretty used to what it feels like in a UK spec'd car. The Man, well he had been at work for most of the week and then on Wed. he was struck down by the 24 hour stomach virus from hell. He was still not up to snuff on Thursday when we went to go rent the car, and had not had much time in a UK spec'd car or riding around learning the rules of the road. So what possessed me to let him be the first one to drive the car is still beyond me. I am not saying it was the worst decision ever made in the history of the earth, but it might be right up there on the list.

So there we are sitting in the parking lot of the rental company, armed with a map of the surrounding area outside of base, a map of the base, and a vague idea of where the base hotel is. We just need to get to the base hotel. Not hard, right? Yeah, that is what I thought. So wrong, so so very wrong. The Man inches out onto the road, left hand side. Good. We head down the road at a turtles pace and I am telling him the directions to get back to the hotel. Everything seems to be going fine.
Me- "Now we need to take the 2nd exit on the roundabout to get onto this road to head back to the hotel"
Him- *confused* "What? Do we need to go left, right or straight?"
By this time we are entering the roundabout and he takes the first exit to the left and we are heading off of the base into the English countryside. Wonderful. Just wonderful.
Him- "Damnit Kat, you didn't tell me which way to go!"
Me- "Ummm yeah I did, you just didn't listen buddy."
Him- "Oh great, now what do we do?"
Me- "Dude, just turn around."
Now we are heading down the road towards one of the towns near base, but I couldn't tell you which one, because the map of the local area...yeah it sucks. I get him to pull over onto a little road so that we can turn around. Then I realize that I have left my ID to get back on base in my purse which is in the trunk of the car...ya know, cause going off base wasn't exactly in the plan. He pulls to the side of the road, I hop out like we are doing a chinese fire drill and grab my purse out of the trunk.
Me-"Ok now go. Remember, pull out onto the LEFT hand side of the road."
Him- "I know that much."
Me- "Alright. I was just reminding you. I mean it isn't like you have had so much experience driving or riding around."
Him- "It doesn't help that the roads are only 3 feet wide."
Me-"They aren't 3 feet wide, it just feels like it."
We head back down the road, me clenching the door handle so tight my knuckles are turning white and praying we don't hit the little curbs on the side of the road and flip the car. Lucky to be alive, we make it back to the base.
Me- "Ok now when we get to the roundabout, just take the first exit. That should take us back towards the room."
On the way back we hit a four way stop intersection*. Now that is something my husband can deal with. This whole looking for cars coming at you, paying attention to turn signals and guessing where the car you are merging in front of is going thing. My husband, I don't know if he is gonna catch onto it really quickly. He has already tried to kill me roughly 4 times since he has been driving.
To quote my husband when we got back to the room a couple days later after yet another near miss at a roundabout where he tried to kill us all. "I love the feeling of almost dying everyday. It really makes you feel alive."
For the record the first time I drove here. It was dark, a Friday night, and I made it there without one near death experience and the kids were screaming and talking the whole way. I am not saying I am a better driver than him, but ya know, I didn't almost kill anyone.

*These are the only stop signs on base. Anywhere you would think there would be stop signs are roundabouts or give ways. Also, give way does not mean stop. It is basically a yield sign.

In England!

Oh man... how do I squeeze a weeks worth of activity into one post? Well I guess I am just going to have to go in broad terms and then talk about specific events later on in the week. I got to England last Saturday at around ten in the morning. I then forced myself and the family to stay awake until around 10pm. So I had roughly NO sleep in 40 hours. I would have slept on the plane except for the fact that my seat reclined roughly a quarter of an inch and everytime I closed my eyes the air waitresses would start another beverage service. I mean really, how many apple cranberry juices can one person drink during an 8 hour flight? The kids slept pretty well during the flight with KiKi leaning her head on my arm and stretching one way across the seats and LaLa laying against her dad and stretching across the seats in the opposite direction. Heathrow Airport? Oy! That place is a mess. Apparently, in the UK, trash bins are totally optional outside. I have never seen so much litter on the side of the road. My friend, D*, tells me that they have some sort of clean up crew that comes by every so often to pick up the sides of the road, but when people finish a drink or something, they just throw it out of their car windows. This is completely foreign to me because in the States, this would be a huge fine if you got caught by a police officer.

For the record I did not help myself in my no sleep department by consuming a couple of pints of cider that night around a bonfire in my my friend's backyard. Cider is however some yummy stuff. I like the brand Strongbow the best (I had 3 different types to sample from that night thanks to my new English friend, N**.)

By this point I was sick of hotels so we decided to stay the night at my friends house. The next morning we started getting settled into our new hotel room. This room isn't nearly as bad as the room we had at the last base. This hotel room has 2 bedrooms, one with a queen sized bed and the other has two twin beds in it. It also has a fairly large kitchen and living area. It also has a washer and dryer (English sized...that is another post there!) and a dishwasher. The only problem we have had here so far is that the water temp was lukewarm for about 3 days until we got the maintenance men up here to fix it. Now we are getting to shower with hot water again.New room

Thankfully we won't have to stay here for very long because we have already found a house that we want to rent. We are just waiting for the OK from the landlord to have pets. It is a cute little detached house (to Americans that is a single family house), with 4 bedrooms, 1 1/2 bathrooms, and a detached garage that had been turned into a play room by the previous family. The Man is going to use the garage for his "Man Cave", in other words a place for him to go play guitar and be a man. Why do I all of a sudden hear that Home Improvement guy Tim Allen?

My new love is also Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate bars. Someone will have to try to pry on of these suckers out of my cold dead PMSing hands. Hershey ain't got nothing on Cadbury chocolate. Whitmans, kiss my hiney. Mars...pfft. Cadbury is where it is at. Maybe I should have a contest for a chocolate bar...I need to think about this one.

This week was also marked by the 24 hour stomach virus from hell. First KiKi got a little diarhea and the next thing we know, The Man is laid up in bed for the next day and a half going at both ends, KiKi starts puking her guts up and then D's family all get it. Thankfully Me, LaLa and D were all spared from the virus. D felt a little queasy on Friday, but never actually got sick and I felt a little queasy this morning. When The Man and KiKi were sick I was feverishly Lysoling the bathroom and kitchen repeating the mantra "I will not get sick, I will not get sick, I will not get sick" I think it worked. Mind over matter, right people?

Umm..WTF the steering wheel is on the wrong side.

Anyhoo other than the stomach virus, I think we had a pretty good first week. We found a house, we met some really nice people, went to a birthday party***, got a lot of our inprocessing done, learned to drive a car on a different side of the road****, and got lost in the middle of the countryside with D while we went to pick Elizabeth up from quarantine. Did I mention that we also got a dusting of snow this morning?

*Need to think of a nickname for best friend D
** Don't know enough about new English friend,N, to make a nickname for him yet.
*** For another post
**** see above.

Words of Wisdom from OhCaptain

When I was looking for a guest poster I definitely could not overlook the Midwest Geek, also known as OhCaptain. He is a great father, husband, and a terrific blogger. He also let me in on the genius aspect of the new version of iTunes, which has made my life complete. Please make him feel welcome here at 3 Bedroom Bunglaow!

Howdy! My name is OhCaptain (no it's not, but this is the Internet). Kat asked me to guest post for her while she takes her family across the pond. Wow! What on honor. Thanks for the opportunity!

When I agreed to do this, she gave me a topic and asked if it was OK. What's the topic? (it's in the title...geez)

Travel.

Seemed like a pretty broad topic with lots of room to wiggle. Just my style. As a very experienced know it all husband and father of two, I got to experience the absolute hell joy of traveling by air on a one week vacation this past summer.

I have gone in spurts at work when it comes to traveling. There have been times when I didn't want to unpack because the next trip was right around the corner. Now, I'm on a stretch when I never seem to leave the office.

Here are some helpful hints that I discovered that made our trip a success.

Practice Makes Perfect

I can remember my first business trip by air after 9/11. These new checkpoint rules were confusing and some just seemed really weird.

When we started getting ready for this trip, this experience made me think. What are the kids going to do when we get to the checkpoints? How will they react when we are told to remove our shoes. I'm a grown up and that seemed really weird to me.

With that in mind, me and the Mrs talked about what was going to happen with the kids and even practiced a little bit about going through security. We used a doorway as a metal detector and took off our shoes to walk through.

This really helped, when we got there, we had no surprises and the kids just did everything like we practiced.

Some little things to consider when getting the kids ready for the checkpoints:

• Have the kids wear slip on shoes. You may not have time for a beginner to tie their shoes.
• Pack all electronics in one bag and make sure you can unpack and repack them quickly.
• We packed those Kool-ade to go packets that you add to water bottles. Sure, $3 for water is ridiculous, but what you gonna do. You can't bring through security.

Study Your Itinerary Carefully

I'm a planner. I like to plan for spontaneity. Being prepared when you travel is critical for smooth sailing.

I'm not rich, so traveling direct is not always an option. Layovers happen and it's best to know what to expect.

For our trip, we changed planes both ways. We figured an hour or two might be fun with the kids. We could go exploring some airport and do things we've never done before. As it turns out, that wasn't in the cards for us. In fact, on the trip home from vacation, we had 35 minutes to cross 5 terminals at ATL in Atlanta.

Yikes. Knowing this ahead of time gave us chance to make some plans. We packed extra light carry-ons for the trip home. Nothing extra. In a pinch, Dad (me) could carry almost everything, including the 5 year old, and high tail it across the airport.

You Can't Pack Too Many Crayons

Traveling cross country by air takes time. Granted, in our case, it was much faster then the 3 day drive it would be if we hopped into the minivan, but it still 4 hours of being good sitting in one spot.

In the kids carry-on's we packed:

• Lots of crayons
• Coloring books
• Mp3 Players
• Leapster/Nintendo DS
• Extra batteries
• Books for reading
• Blankies
• Something to hug
• Snacks
• Notebook
• Pencils

I was so proud of our kids. It seemed to be the right mix. We did take out a little insurance policy. We bough each one a new game. We gave it to them just before we left and neither knew they were getting it.

***

So, how did our trip go? We had a blast. The kids loved traveling by air and we the parents found it a very relaxing way to go.

I know, not everything is going to always go as planned. Flights can be canceled, luggage can be lost, but if you plan ahead and don't put too much pressure on yourself, you can have some fun.

Tofurkey, Anyone?

Hey everyone! Lets give a warm welcome to the Sassy Mama Lola from Sassy Mama Says...This chick is one of my first readers and a top notch blogger. I give her crap because she is a liberal, she gives it right back to me for being a conservative. It is all fun and games between friends and we can agree to disagree. Isn't that what this world is all about anyway? Having differences and learning to appreciate them and get past them to form friendships? I think that is what is great about this country. Ok off my soapbox! Everyone show Lola some love.

It's that time of year again, and the Great Turkey Debate is in full
swing. My mother volunteered to do Thanksgiving this year, since
we're going to Florida right before the holiday, and I REALLY wanted
to take her up on her generous offer, but...

It will be stressful for me to do it, but I have to. I'm not about to
let my 73-year old mother take on the huge task of cooking and baking
for 12 people. It's way too much work, and she's paid her
Thanksgiving dues already. My sister and brother don't seem to mind
who does it, as long as it's not them, so it will be my job once
again. The aforementioned brother and sister also refuse to go out
for Thanksgiving dinner again, which my mother and I have both
suggested, and they can't seem to contribute anything other than
store-bought pies. I'm not bitter; I'm just used to it.

This has been going on for years, and I end up doing it, along with
every other holiday and special occasion. Since I love to cook and
throw parties, I actually enjoy being the hostess; that is, except for
Thanksgiving day. It used to be one of my favorite days of the year
when I lived at home. I loved to help my mother peel the squash and
apples for the pies and set the table and spend the day with family.
Once we moved into our house, I couldn't wait to host our first turkey
day. I was so excited. I did all the shopping, had the table set and
all the fixins ready to go. I just had to get the turkey in the
oven.

This is when I discovered my hatred of turkey or at least uncooked
turkey. I love me some fully-cooked turkey as long as someone else is
doing the cooking, but that Thanksgiving day when I was pulling the
fresh turkey's internal organs out of its butt, touching the bumps
where the feathers once were and seeing a couple stragglers that they
didn't pluck while I washed its slimy, whitish-pink skin, I was
gagging. I had no idea what my mother had endured all those years. I
was so disgusted that I screamed for my husband to finish the job.

Being such a great guy, he finished cleaning it and got it in the pan
and then the oven. I thought I was safe, but the smell of the flesh
cooking made me sick all day long. When that baby came out of the
oven all brown and pretty, just the way I like it, I couldn't eat a
bite. Since that Thursday in 1994, almost every turkey day has made
me ill. I can't eat it if I clean it or smell it cooking. We went
out to eat one year, deep fried one outside another year, had my
mother cook it at her house, but it was not close to done when she
brought it down. Nothing seems to make it easier.

So, this year, I'm going to change it up. It might be an Italian
Thanksgiving or we might have chicken breasts on the grill or maybe
even tofurkey. I'd rather enjoy the day with my family than stress
over cooking a 20-pound bird and keeping everything else warm. It's
time for some new traditions for this family, and I've just got to
decide what they will be. If my siblings don't like it, they can do
it next year.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving, especially you and
yours, Kat! Good luck across the pond, my friend.

South, West, North, East

Hi, I’m Ellie from Me and You and Ellie , and I’m delighted to be guest-blogger for Kat while she makes her big move to England. She asked me to write about “moving or traveling”, which is easy: my husband, Mistah and I have spent the last 7½ years traveling around the United States in our German-built (ha!) Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia “Westy”.

So I wish Kat and her family good luck, and I share a tiny sampling of the joy that German Engineering can bring.



We’ve done about 7 loops around the country in the Westy since we started traveling in the beginning of 2001. Each time, we do things slightly differently, stay in different campgrounds, check out different things depending on the time of year, the weather, what we know, and places we hear about.

But I’m combining 7 cross-country loops into 1 here, and zipping with you from one corner to the next. Maybe I should have called this Southeast, Southwest, Northwest, Northeast?

South. We are always compelled to head south. When we first started traveling it was January, and Connecticut was covered in snow and we arrived warm and happy in the Florida Keys 5 days later.

We’ve spent many winters in the Keys – this is Bahia Honda State Park in Big Pine Key. We’ve been volunteers there, so have been able to camp there for 2- or 3-months at a time. I am itching to get back there, as I sit here in my freezing house today….

West. Heading west, we drive across the gulf states, and into Texas. We stop in Fort Davis, of course, a lovely little town where we have a house . . .


. . . and where we’ve also volunteered at the state park. That’s the Westy, in the photo above: that tiny white dot, where the roads meet. No we were NOT in a helicopter; we were hiking in the Davis Mountains. 5000 feet. In Texas!

Heading further west – we are Americans, after all, and do absolutely believe in the Romance of the West – we pass through the badass states of New Mexico and Arizona, and into California. Aahhh, California.

But wait! First: a detour into Mexico’s Baja Peninsula for 2½ months, in 2003.



We camp in places like this all the time. No people, no traffic, no distractions, no nothing, except sea and sky and peace.


Oh, and these guys.

Back to California. We always camp in the Anza-Borrego Desert, which is the biggest state park in the United States. The whole of the Anza Borrego Desert is the state park. It’s in San Diego county, it’s 100 miles from Jacquie’s door, and it not only feels like a different county, or state, than the one that San Diego shares, it feels like a different planet.



Is there anything better than camping under the stars, with no ambient light, in the warmth? No. No, there is not.



Well, camping right on the coast is pretty great too.

North. Driving up the California coast is one of the most spectacular trips on this continent. The Pacific Coast Highway, Big Sur, the Bay Area.



And then, aaaahhhhh. The mysterious grandeur of the Gigantic Sierras. Hang around those trees for a few days, and your attitude about the importance of your place on the planet shifts a little.

East. Heading East – always poignant. But exciting, too, because lots and lots of our peeps live east of the Mississippi, thousands of miles away. And the driving’s good, too, with the sun at our backs all afternoon (hey! These are things you think about after 7 years on the road!)



I really love the remote campsites we get, like this one in Nevada, and I just love the fact that Mistah makes the effort to photograph them.



And then over the Rockies and into the heartland. The corn belt. Nebraska (a great place to picnic, clearly), Iowa, Illinois. I love those state. So wide and vast and corn-filled.

And that’s it. A full loop. Until we pull right in to the East Coast . . .


. . . and arrive home (at least for now) in the Nutmeg State. Connecticut.

Is it time to go to the Florida Keys yet?

Advise from the Badass Geek

Badass Geek is not only a great blogger, but he is also a teckie to end all teckies. If I ever have a problem with my computer he will probably be one of the first people I email for tech support. Screw calling the helpdesk in New Delhi I am willing to bet Badass has a much more understandable accent (even though he is from Maine). Please make the Badass Geek feel at home here at the Bungalow!

When Kat approached me to write a guest entry for her during the time that she was going to be relocating to her new home across the pond, I agreed without hesitation. She gave me a few suggestions when I asked her what I should write about, and although she gave me freedom of subject matter (short of religion or politics), I decided to go with one of her suggestions and write about something I have a lot of experience with: moving.

I boast that I have a lot of experience with moving because in the past three years, my wife (who I refer to The Boss over at my blog) and I have moved a back-brakingly high number of five times. To say that we are adept at safely packaging our dishes and other things destined to be labeled as “Fragile” would be a gross understatement. Due to the frequency of our address changes, a majority of our possessions have spent most of their time tucked safely away inside a growing number of plastic storage bins, saving us the work of having to re-pack them for the eventual moving process in a couple months down the line.

Now, anyone who follows my blog knows that I am fond of making lists, and can make a list out of just about anything. Since I am just one job description on my résumé away from being a Professional Home Relocation Contractor, I figured it’d be appropriate to share a list of things I’ve learned about the moving process from personal experiences…

Important Things To Remember When Moving:

· Don’t pack essential items that you use daily, like deodorant or toothpaste, until the last day at your soon-to-be former residence. Your spouse and others helping you move will appreciate this.

· It is foolish to rely on the strength of cardboard boxes to transport the contents of your bookshelf. The bottom will fall out approximately three steps before you arrive to the moving van/truck.

· Use caution when using cleaning products. Proper ventilation is necessary to avoid dangerous side effects such as dizziness, loss of consciousness, and the waste of an afternoon from sitting in your vacant living room, laughing about nothing in particular whilst feeling stoned.

· If you forgot you had it or haven’t used it in six months or more, get rid of it. If you don’t, I promise you’ll be kicking yourself in the ass six months later when you have to move it to another apartment… again.

· Do not eat large meals when moving. Otherwise, after consumption you might experience what is called a “Food Coma”, or worse, vomiting.

· Invest the money in large, heavy-duty garbage bags. They are good to have on hand when you are fed up with putting things in boxes, and can hold a surprisingly large amount of stuff. Remember to differentiate the bags of Things You Want To Keep from the bags of regular household trash, so you don’t accidentally set something important, like your wife’s wedding dress, out on the curb for pickup the next morning.

· When selecting the proper attire for Moving Day, choose clothes that are loose-fitting. Your favorite old pair jeans might be the most comfortable if just a little tight, but the cool autumn air will cause a chill when the crotch rips open when you remember to lift with your knees.

· If the number of trips you make between your old residence and new residence exceeds the number of fingers you have (assuming you’re not an amputee), you have too much crap.

By the time this post reaches the wonderful readers of Kat’s blog, my wife and I will probably have been awarded a Guinness World Record for moving again, for the sixth time in three years. Just as I’ve become skilled at packing and lifting heavy things without giving myself a hernia or a slipped disc, with each move we make I’ve become equally as skilled at complaining about it every step of the way. You are not going to hear me complain about it here, though. Moving from one place to the other, with no more than 20 minutes and 11 miles between them, is just a drop in the bucket compared to the time-zone traversing relocation that Kat and her family face.

Good luck with the move, Kat. We look forward to hearing about it all when you come back.

Antique White Bedroom Furniture

There are several extremely popular types of antique bedroom furniture at any given time, usually in line with the fashions of the day, but one type seems to remain as popular as it has ever been amongst consumers. Antique white bedroom furniture has an universal appeal because it is different and can brighten up what would otherwise be a dark and dingy bedroom. Other bedroom furniture comes in a rainbow of browns. Everything from mahogany to walnut to oak usually makes it into a bedroom but can make it seem smaller somehow, not to mention overbearing, and antique white furniture marks a distinct difference. It is undoubtedly unique and thus is definitely more difficult to find. Its popularity does not help with this problem but could potentially raise its value even farther.

Antique white bedroom furniture does not have one particular and definitive style. It can be found in a wide range of designs so that you can select one that matches your tastes and home décor. The fact that it is different in colour means that it gives a room a better, lighter quality than most bedroom furniture and adds an elegance to every room that is hard to create from scratch. Antique white bedroom furniture combines European and American styles. This combination makes it completely different to anything that has ever been created before, although it has been subjected to a few attempted recreations since. It has an innate sense of style that can fit in with most individual tastes so very few people actually dislike it. Most antique furnitures are an acquired taste but antique white furniture is not too hard to get used to!

Bedroom office furniture

Office furniture must be both appealing as well as utilitarian. The basic components of office furniture tables, chairs, sofa sets, cabinets, file drawers and presentation boards. There can be many more components depending on the budget and tastes of the office owners. The modern office furniture is made of vinyl and steel. The traditional patterns of wood are out. There is also a profuse use of glass, which enhances the look of the furniture. Glass could be molded, colored and etched, giving it various designs and patterns. Glass coupled with other materials, or even alone, is an integral part of office furniture.

Tables are most important in an office. They may be present in various sizes. The biggest tables are required in conference rooms. Conference rooms are highly important, as these are the places where visiting clients are entertained and presentations are held. Hence, conference room furniture is vital to the image of an office. Conference tables should have matching chairs. They must be comfortable, but they can be as unconventional in design as needed.

Offices have their own kinds of furniture. Chiefly needed are a desk and a plush chair, other chairs for seating clients and several drawers. The desk should not be too large to intimidate clients; and the drawers should not be too many to get confusing. Even furniture in the foyers and waiting rooms is important, as this is the place where clients wait and make their judgments about the office. Comfy sofas and a few low tables with magazines often suffice, but it pays to have some paintings and wall hangings with bright lighting. The reception desk also should be clean and inviting.

Office furniture is often termed commercial furniture. Even mortgages available for office improvements are levied at commercial rates of interest. Naturally, building a whole office setup requires a lot of planning and investment. Office furniture cannot be changed again and again. There are many reasons for this. One reason is the difficulty in stopping work for several days. Another is that staff and clients are often nonplussed by changing office furniture, as they prefer familiar surroundings for them to work in. It may also project the shaky mind of the office owners.

Elegant bedroom furniture

When it comes to home decorating in 2007, there is one style trend that is guaranteed to dominate the market: simple, yet elegant. What does this mean? Simple, yet elegant furniture designs focus on familiar designs that allow the user to feel comfortable with the piece, but still look fabulous. This styled will make modern and contemporary designs quite popular in the coming year. This styled goes hand-in hand with another rising trend, versatile furniture, with most furniture pieces nowadays serving more than one purpose.

For beds, look for something sleek with a low-profile. Platform beds are perfect for this, with their simple, minimalist properties. Moreover, platform beds feature under-bed storage space to maximize your floor space and keep your closet and shelves clutter-free. Likewise, leather beds will also be in style, with their sophisticated looks but low key qualities. Add to this leather’s renowned durability and it is easy to see why leather beds will be popular in 2007. For bedroom furniture such as nightstands and dressers, look for pieces that are stylish, but modest, with enough storage to make them practical. Don’t go crazy searching for the perfect nightstand. Remember: these pieces should be used to compliment the bedroom, not define it, and so, practical considerations should always come first. Bedroom benches will also be making a re-emergence. Many of these are offered in leather or intricate upholstery and feature storage space, making them stylish and versatile.

Lighting is tricky to select, as it can have a tremendous impact on the ambience of the room. Make sure your rooms have enough general lighting so that day-today functioning is possible. By the same measure, task and accent lighting can do a world of good and can reinforce our mantra of simple, yet elegant. Imagine a piece of artwork illuminated by a single accent light. Minimalism is key. Play around, and find something that works for your home.

Lastly, modular storage will be coming into style, as it allows you to organize your room, and even customize your organization solution. The more space in your home, the better and modular storage solutions can really free up quite a bit of it. Stack together various types of modular storage cubes, and you can find the perfect solution for eliminating your clutter.

European bedroom furniture

There are several extremely popular types of antique bedroom furniture at any given time, usually in line with the fashions of the day, but one type seems to remain as popular as it has ever been amongst consumers. Antique white bedroom furniture has an universal appeal because it is different and can brighten up what would otherwise be a dark and dingy bedroom. Other bedroom furniture comes in a rainbow of browns.

Everything from mahogany to walnut to oak usually makes it into a bedroom but can make it seem smaller somehow, not to mention overbearing, and antique white furniture marks a distinct difference. It is undoubtedly unique and thus is definitely more difficult to find. Its popularity does not help with this problem but could potentially raise its value even farther. Antique white bedroom furniture does not have one particular and definitive style. It can be found in a wide range of designs so that you can select one that matches your tastes and home décor. The fact that it is different in colour means that it gives a room a better, lighter quality than most bedroom furniture and adds an elegance to every room that is hard to create from scratch.

Antique white bedroom furniture combines European and American styles. This combination makes it completely different to anything that has ever been created before, although it has been subjected to a few attempted recreations since. It has an innate sense of style that can fit in with most individual tastes so very few people actually dislike it. Most antique furnitures are an acquired taste but antique white furniture is not too hard to get used to!

Some antique styles can prove to be very expensive but antique white bedroom furniture is in fact more affordable than the majority of its competition. There is the opportunity to pick up some real bargains. Although there are some very expensive antique white furniture sets around, at least this gives you the choice. You can choose the set that best fits your budget so you do not have to break the bank to enhance your home with antique white bedroom furniture and neither do you have to compromise on quality. Whatever combination you are looking for, you can get it!

Western bedroom furniture

When you think of America, the Wild West certainly is an aspect that comes to mind. With western theme furniture, you can incorporate that period into you home. You don’t have to live in the West to enjoy Western theme furniture in your home. Whether you decide to furnish an entire room in western furniture, or just use a few accent pieces, you will find that it can add a special sense of flare to any theme of décor. Western theme furniture is influenced by the “Old West” as well as the animals and nature available in the western areas of the United States. While it has always been present in homes in these areas, this theme of décor has quickly spread through the United States and even around the world, and is found in urban areas quite often.

Furniture has done in a western theme is largely made of natural materials. Wood, leather, rocks, and metal all feature prominently. Animal and nature motifs are often included. Bear, deer, fish, and moose all are incorporated in design elements. Antlers, both real and manufactured, are also used quite frequently. Western furniture is not ornate, and does not have a lot of carvings or frilly designs. The pieces are typically large and simple.

You won’t find any pastels in western furniture. The colors chosen are typically ones that can be found out west in nature; deep reds, forest greens, rock gray. You’ll also see dark blues and sometimes cream is used an accent color. The fabric used in most western pieces is textured. Old leather and suede are often found. When cloth is used, it is typically woven blankets or denim. This furniture is meant to be touched and used. It is a decorative item, but is built to stand up to every day use. Furniture that is vintage or has the appearance of age is prevalent in western furniture, as many times designers seek to mimic the way furniture appeared in the “Old West.”

While there are many people who chose to decorate their entire home in a Western motif, you don’t need to do that to use this theme. A couch or love seat has done in a western theme can be a great accent piece, and often can blend in well with other themes of furniture. Because of the rich, dark colors, this type of furniture often works well in a den or office. People who live in log theme homes often pick western furniture for their homes because the colors go so well together. It is a good way to use leather furniture in your home if you have children, because the pieces are so rugged and durable.

Cool bedroom furniture

Bedroom furniture consists of a bed, nightstands, cupboards, dressing tables, wardrobes and mirrors. There could also be a television or a music set. Bedroom furniture typically uses cool colors which add to the coziness of the room. Even the lighting in bedrooms is mostly kept dim to create an ambient atmosphere. The big difference between bedroom furniture and furniture in the rest of the house is that bedroom furniture is not usually seen by visitors. Bedroom furniture is considered part of the private life of the owner. Furniture used in the bedroom has the potential to influence the mindset of the person using the bedroom.

That said, the basic purpose of bedroom furniture is to provide coziness and relaxation. A person may look forward to go to his or her bedroom after an especially grueling day. At the same time, bedroom furniture must be easily accessible and usable without much effort. Beds are the most integral components of bedroom furniture. Going by modern trends, beds are available in not only rectangular and square designs, but also circular, oval or any other abstract shapes. The mattress of the bed is highly important and it must be ergonomic to the person using it. Beds are available in four standard sizes – king size, queen size, double and twin. The size of a bed is selected depending on the size of the bedroom. An ideal bedded would be one with tiny drawers and places to keep nightstands for people who enjoy reading in bed.

Wardrobes are generally attached to bedroom walls. They must not be too large, but must be able to hold all the clothes of the user. Wardrobes may have mirrors on their doors to help a person in dressing up. Similarly, dressers are important in a bedroom. Dressing tables are wide enough to accommodate cosmetic material with a mirror and a stool. People usually order their bedroom furniture in bulk. The reason behind this is to make all components match one another. Even abstract shapes should have a sense of homogeneity. There must be an intelligent blend of colors and patterns to make the bedroom furniture appealing. Hence, it is prudent to give the order for the entire bedroom furniture at the same time to the same contractor.

Discounted bedroom furniture

For those of you who are planning to refurbish your rooms, you don’t have to worry about burning a hole in your pocket, as it is possible to shop for Discounted Bedroom Furniture. Put in a little bit of extra effort of exploring the options around. It will be worth your while, as you might be able to get Discount Bedroom Furniture that does not have any semblance of being discounted. There are much options that you can explore on the Internet, that offer furniture that can be tailor-made according to your requirements.

Nevertheless of course, this time around the furniture does not only have a pleasing effect on the eyes, but also spells good news for your bank balance. Exactly in the fashion in which you come across several options in regular Bedroom Furniture, similarly you can come across a range of furniture in the Discounted Furniture section. So you can find a range of beds, tables, chairs, chests of drawers and armoires, all available at a discount. The good news doesn’t end here, as the range of furniture also stretches to office furniture. Nonetheless, one look at them and you won’t be able to tell that the furniture happens to be discounted.

You will be able to save many of money if you exercise options such as going for used furniture. You could also weigh the option of buying smaller beds to save money. Look out for the seasonal sale, to ensure that you get a discount. Try doing a comparison by looking at a fair number of shops, instead of simply zeroing on what to buy right at the first store you enter. You can also fulfill your dream of buying that ornate antique bed that you had been craving, now that it is on sale. Many times you will also find some of the exquisitely carved beds or pieces of furniture that are a sheer delight to own. So if you get them either second-hand or at a discount, do not miss a chance to get holding of these prized possessions. For those of you for whom change is a way of life, consider the option of Discount Bedroom Furniture, as you would be able to dispose off furniture with lesser guilt and make way for new furniture easily.

Inexpensive bedroom furniture

If cost is holding you back from purchasing new bedroom furniture, there are alternatives out there that will let you update your look without putting you in the poorhouse. Even as the Swedish company with the blue and gold logo has made knock-down, or ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture much more commonplace, there is still a negative connotation attached to furniture made with engineered wood that is very undeserving. In fact, there are a few advantages that RTA furniture has over solid and all-wood furniture that many out there don't understand.

Perhaps the main advantage RTA furniture has over solid wood furniture is that it is actually stronger. Particleboard with a thin veneer on each side can hold more weight and take more abuse than most solid wood boards. In addition, solid wood has the propensity for warping and crack over time due to changes in humidity and moisture entering small cracks and openings. Engineering wood is almost completely impenetrable and doesn't have the natural cracks and pores solid wood has. If taken care of, RTA furniture actually has properties that give it a longer life span than solid wood furniture.

If you're going for a contemporary look in your bedroom, RTA furniture is the ideal choice for you. Modern designs are simple and sleek, with solid tones that are often void of wood grains completely. Dark hues like espresso and jet black are very popular in contemporary bedroom furniture right now. What's the use of hiding a beautiful oak bedroom set under a coat of black paint? RTA furniture gives you the finish and look you want for a fraction of the price.

And of course, price is always a concern; at least it is for most of us. If taken care of properly, your RTA bedroom set can last for while you want it to. If you like to update the look in your bedroom every so often and prefer to keep up with trends, RTA furniture is perfect for you. You don't have to invest a huge chunk of money and pray you don't grow tired of it like you do with solid wood furniture. With the minimal cost of RTA furniture, updating your bedroom furniture every year or two is option.

Bedroom furniture manufacturer

It's a fact that most of us will be spending a third of our lives in our bedrooms. We start the day inside the bedroom, and we will end the day sleeping in our beds. Why not make the most of it and make our bedroom furniture as comfortable and durable as we can. Shopping for descent bedroom furniture can really become a difficult and expensive task. By knowing what and how to choose for your bedroom, shopping can turn out to be really fun and entertaining.

It is highly advised not to sacrifice quality for afford ability. However, that case maybe you cannot sacrifice affordability. Therefore, you must set standards when you're shopping for your bedroom furniture. Be wise in choosing your furniture; you don?T want to clean out your savings account just for a couple of pieces of bedroom furniture. Be warned that there are plenty of furniture manufacturers out there who will easily convince you to buy a very expensive, but not so durable piece of furniture.

It is important to remember that in choosing bedroom furniture you must consider good craftsmanship. Because of the fact that bedroom furniture will be used more often than any other household furniture, it is only practical to buy furniture with the highest craftsmanship to ensure durability. By doing so, you will be able to save money on repairs or buying a new set.

In looking for bedroom furniture, remember that you can find the good quality furniture and bad quality furniture being sold under the same roof. It is highly advised that you inspect every piece closely to ensure that both good craftsmanship and quality materials are used. high quality materials go hand in hand with good craftsmanship in making lasting furniture. Remember, you'll be spending a third of your life using bedroom furniture, so it's advisable that wherever you decide to buy your bedroom furniture, make sure that it is of the highest quality and craftsmanship.

High end bedroom furniture

Not all bedrooms are made alike, and choosing the right furniture for the right bedroom is very important. The furniture you choose should reflect the quantity of use it gets, the importance of the room in the house, and the design preferences of the homeowner. For example, the master bedroom furniture should be among the most costly in the home and while you shouldn't spend a fortune here, you should be certain that your bedroom set will make you happy for a long time to come. King bedroom furniture is usually preferred for a master bedroom, though queen sized mattresses and beds sell very well, also. If you have an option, choose to go king, but keep in mind that you have to make the design affordable for you.

Affordable bedroom furniture is necessary for other rooms of the house, including the guest room and children's rooms. When you add furniture to the guest room, it will probably be a lot smaller than the master, so you'll want to measure before expecting the bed size you'll put in there. Usually, a full sized bed is the best choice, though you may be able to squeeze a queen sized mattress in without making the room feel cramped. Look especially at discounted bedroom furniture for your guest room because this is the one room in the house that will most likely be rarely used. Therefore, you certainly don't want to overspend on furniture here.

As for the children's rooms, you certainly shouldn't opt for high end bedroom furniture for several reasons. First, expensive bedroom furniture should be a lifetime investment, something that can be passed from one room in the house to the other while you can If you stick high end bedroom furniture in your child’s room, either your child is going to rough it up in the action of being a child or he or she will tire of it very quickly and want something new. Be sure to opt for more affordable bedroom furniture that is also quite versatile and enduring to last many years through the torture the children can heap on it.

Modular bedroom furniture

Setting up and furnishing an office can be very exciting, but it can also be a difficult and time-consuming task. The thing that seems to take the most effort is deciding what style you want to go within your office. Often the style we want isn't the style we can afford, which makes it even more difficult. Whether it's leather furniture, contemporary style office furniture or modular wood office furniture, it all takes planning. Once every last detail has been completed and you have your office furniture, you need to think about installation next. The most expensive furniture won't do your office justice if it's not properly installed.

Always Plan Ahead : Before you buy your office furniture, you'll visualize in your head how it will look and how you want it situated, etc. Many business owners choose to use a consultant who can show you different variations for your furniture. While you may believe you only have space in one section of the room, a consultant can show you different possibilities. Obviously, the best time to do this is before you purchase your furniture. Once you already have your furniture, there is very little that can be done about fitting it in the office.

When planning for your office furniture purchases, there are certain factors that are important to consider. The budget you have to work with will be your major concern. The number of employees as well as their job duties will also need to be considered. Figure out how much actual space you have for office furniture and what your requirements are as far as each employee and any meetings or training groups. Large meetings and training seminars often require a different type of furniture than an individual employee.

Consider Hiring Professionals : If you're at all uncertain as to the task at hand, you might be best to hire professionals to take over the job for you. Professionals are trained to consider all the small details that we tend to overlook. They would be in charge of looking over the offices before the furniture is even ordered. They speak with the employees to see if they have any specific requests. When they furniture is delivered, they are there to do the installation right to the very last detail. They will not leave the premises until it's all done to your satisfaction.