My Home Redux

Over One MILLION Visits

This won't set the Internet world on fire by any means, and it's taken some years to accomplish, but I have had more than one MILLION visits to this blog.  Thanks to everyone that has visited over the years!

Interview on Alluminare.com blog

A few weeks ago, I had mentioned a do-it-yourself design site, www.alluminare.com. They also have a blog.  One of the editors interviewed me recently about my experience and www.myhomeredux.com. Here's the interview. 

Save Money on Hanging Baskets

On my porch every summer, I hang baskets of impatiens. In the past, I'd buy new baskets each year, but last year in the midst of recession-minded thriftiness, I realized I could just plant flowers in the baskets I never got around to throwing away the previous fall. I did the same thing this year. I bought a flat of impatiens that cost the same - if not less - as one basket. It will take a few weeks to grow completely in, but the price savings is so worth it.  Don't you love six for the price of one deals!?!

High School Tennis Team

My daughter just started her freshman year in high school. She also made the JV tennis team.  There's a fresh-soph team, but she made the upper class JV team. The varsity team is only nationally and regionally ranked players and has won the state of Illinois tournament three years running. So it's kind of a tennis dynasty at her school.  She's thrilled to have made the team. She has really worked on her game the last two years and has improved dramatically. If she improves the same amount in the next two to three years, she will play Varsity. But most importantly, she has started school off involved and making new friends with some very nice girls.

Send your questions and ideas

What decorating ideas do you want to hear about?  What questions do you have about decor in  your home?  Let me know. Just send me an email (see the email me link below my picture) with your idea, question, or what you'd like to read about. I'll do the research and answer the question both on the website here and in my weekly email newsletter.

Exciting Basketball Tournament

My middle child and oldest son played in a basketball tournament this weekend. They won the consolation championship for third place out of 8 teams.  All of his games were hotly contested, often going down to the last minute. The boys were so excited with their trophy, and since individual trophies weren't passed out, they are hoping to put it on display at their school (they all attend the same elementary school).  The best part is that I think everyone scored and playing time was really balanced - so truly a TEAM win.

Another Savings Tip

Since these days economizing is all the rage (whether through fashion or plain simple necessity), I've been sharing savings tips.  Here's my latest favorite:  get ink cartridges refilled. I go to Walgreens where black ink cartridges are filled for $10 and color ones for $15. This is almost a third of the price of a single new, brand-name cartridge and half the per unit price when you buy a multi-pack at a place like Costco. And they work just like a new one.

The Beauty of Beauty Schools

In response to my post about ways to save money, a reader wrote about going to a beauty school. That the price can't be beat and the students really want to do a good job and work really hard. She was right!  I went to a local beauty school to get a body wave. I could not handle my straight, lank hair any more. I have had a wave in my hair since I was 10 but had not gotten one for the past 18 months in order to economize. (There are just so many better ways to spend $150+ these days.)  But at the beauty school it was only $30!!  And the student, Harmony, was so thrilled with how it turned out, that I left with a huge smile on my face because of HER excitement. And she did a good job too! It was a win, win, win.

Juice Williams Illini Fan

Fellow University of Illinois (Illini) fans will appreciate this story the most, but anyone who knows how ardent even the youngest fans can be, will get a kick out of it too.

Last week, as I was picking up my sons from wrestling practice, a young boy was putting on his Illini flannel pants and orange and blue sweatshirt. A mother whose son was apparently his friend and who looked to be taking the boy home asked him who went to the U of I, meaning which of his parents had attended. His quick, firm answer was "Juice Williams", the star quarterback of the Illini football team.  I chuckled to myself at his "isn't it obvious" tone.  Clearly he's a big fan ... with the wardrobe to prove it!

Thank You!

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches this coming week, I just want to thank you for your loyal readership. Many of you have been with me from the beginning four years ago. Some are brand new. I appreciate you all. Because of you, My Home Redux continues to grow. Subscribers keep signing up. Traffic to the site is increasing. All thanks to you. So let me take this Thanksgiving holiday to offer you all my deepest gratitude.