Home Improvements 2011

This week: New Flooring

Brad came over in the evening to make sure that we were started off on the right foot. The boys pulled up carpet, carpet padding, tack boards, and tile. It was definitely a big job. I was very glad to be there to oversee that everything was being done correctly! :)

They even got a start on laying the floor. Until we hit the top of the stairs. Oops. No threshold kit. Guess we've hit a wall until we can make it to Sam's the next day. PS Sam's club has inexpensive and nice wood laminate flooring. I would definitely recommend using them for your flooring needs!

Day two was much more productive. We started out the day with a trip to Sam's and then back for a day FULL of laying laminate. I have to admit. I did hardly anything. I was the weight that prevented the boards from buckling when he pieced them together. Tonight was a late night.

Day three? Yeah... the thresholds and quarter rounds were left to the pro. Josh finished it up and it looks awesome! I am so impressed with how quickly the flooring went down and had we had the threshold kits the first day, we would have only taken a day and a half.

Next project: Repairing our utterly dead yard and get my green thumb on! Welcome Spring!

The Dirty Dozen

Scenerio:
I am crouched on the floor in a woman's room in a nursing home trying to fit compression hose on her big swollen legs when her TV reports that the "Dirty Dozen" has gotten "dirtier"! As I am trying not to pay attention to the nasty flaky skin on this ladies legs, I am focusing on listening to the report on TV. Here is what I learned:

What is the "Dirty Dozen"?
They are the vegetables and fruits that have the most pesticides used on them and thus the most pesticide residue on them when they arrive in the grocery store, your shopping cart, and finally your mouth. (Gross).

Which fruit/veggies are included in the "Dirty Dozen"?
Peaches (THE WORSE), apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, nectarines, strawberries, kale, lettuce, imported grapes, carrots, and pears.

What can you do about reducing the "Dirty Dozen" in your bellies?
Yep, buy organic. Now people, let's be honest. I am definitely NOT a health freak (please note my continual supply of chocolate in my freezer), but pesticides? I am not down with dumping more waste into my body than normally so. Herego - I may try out the organic scene when it comes to fresh veggies and fruits. Lucky for me, I have mad garden skills so my bell peppers are always organic!

What are the "Clean 15" and which veggies/fruits are included?
The "Clean 15" is basically the opposite of the "Dirty Dozen" (duh) and are the fruits and veggies that are least likely to have little if any pesticides used on them. Therefore - yep, buy cheap! Included in the "Clean 15" are: Onions, avocados, sweet corn, pineapple, mango, asparagus, sweet peas, kiwi, cabbage, eggplant, papaya, watermelon, broccoli, tomato, and sweet potatoes.

Sorry for a minor rant and rave, but I thought it was interesting and it was a lot easier to pay attention to that instead of compression hose!