Thursday, September 29, 2011

Fall Favorites

So it was 98 degrees today in good 'ol St. George, Utah. Despite, or perhaps because of that I've been dreaming about fall and all my favorite things that go along with it.

Plaid. I love plaid, and when fall comes I hear a voice saying 'WEAR PLAID!'

Rainy Days. I know that rainy days are usually associated with Spring, but I live in St. George and our winter isn't snow, it's rain. There's something so mysterious and romantic about rainy days.

Caramel Apples! I could so easily be an addict to Rocky Mtn Chocolate Factory's Caramel Apple coated in white chocolate and sprinkled with sugar. SO GOOD!

Taking drives to watch the changing leaves. Of course we have to drive a little ways to see those.

Warm, cute sweaters!

Curling up with a good book, a warm blanket, and a cup of hot chocolate.

What are your favorite fall festivities?

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Top 7 TV Shows I Watch Over & Over

We've stopped buying most DVD's, but what we can't help but buying are TV shows. We watch them over and over. Why you ask? Let's say it's a normal boring night and you've got a ton of laundry to fold...what show are you going to pop in the DVD player to keep you company while you fold and fold. Here are some of my top choices...

GleeThere are few things I love more than hilarious shows with musical numbers. Add to that an incredibly rude, highly politically incorrect, yet ridiculously funny Cheer-leading Coach and you've got pure gold. The characters are naive, yet full of depth. If you want to hear more of my thoughts on Glee check it out here.

SmallvilleThere is something so captivating about watching a shy, regular guy transform into a confident hero. I also can't get enough of watching Lois and Clark fall in love.

The OfficeSometimes this show is actually painful to watch. Michael's stupidity is amazing, you never knew anyone could be so clueless. And you can't help loving Jim & Pam's romance! It's so easy to imagine yourself working in an office just like theirs.

Gilmore GirlsMost of the guys I know who've seen this (mostly because of their wives or girlfriends) complain that they talk too much. While when I think about it, yes, they do use A LOT of words, it's just never bothered me. I love the mother/daughter relationship between Rory and Lorelia, I love their pop culture references, I love the string of boy friends and broken hearts they leave behind them, but most of all I love Luke and Lorelia.

Instant StarHere's another show full of great musical numbers. Every episode has a great new song and it's so fun to watch. But the best part is Jude and Tommy's relationship. It starts off as hopeless because she's underage, but they can't help but miss how much they understand each other. They are both flawed people who often make horrible decisions, but their hearts are in the right place. Something always seems to be in their way, but that doesn't stop them from dreaming.

Boy Meets WorldI've said it before and I'll say it again, Boy Meets World is the best show ever! It's funny, it's heartwarming, it's thoughtful, it's wonderful. I don't know if I love the Cory/Topanga relationship more than the Cory/Shawn relationship because they're both awesome. I DO know that Eric is my favorite. I'm anxiously counting the days until the last season comes out on DVD.

FriendsFRIENDS, I think, may go down in history as one of the most loved shows ever. It never gets old! I can laugh myself to tears every time I watch it. We bought the entire series for Christmas several years ago and we've said many times how it was one of the best things we ever bought.

You're turn!

Monday, September 26, 2011

Are Dogs Really Kids In Disguise?

Tad and I started out our marriage with the sweetest little puppy ever. Now that we've moved onto the big time and had kids I've noticed myself saying the same things to my kids that I did to Penny. Here's a few: Are you kidding me?!



Roll Over!


Quiet!


Down!


Speak!

Saturday, September 24, 2011

FRIENDS Has The Answer To All Your Problems

There are so many questions that I have about life. I'm gonna let you in on my secret solutions. FRIENDS. They have the answers to almost any problem that you'll come across. Here are a few good ones just to prove to you that they really know their stuff!

What do I do if my girlfriend is too cuddly?


How do I make it through an awkward dinner party?


What do I do to get more respect at work?


How can I protect myself from dangerous persons?


How difficult will it be to learn another language?

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Pinterest Pinterest Pinterest

So I'm sure you've figured out by now how awesome Pinterest is. I can't seem to help myself from surfing the site. Here are a few awesome things it can help you find:

DINNER
Click Here

DESSERTClick Here

MEAL PLANNING RESOURCES
Click Here

NEW WAYS TO DO YOUR HAIR
Click Here

FUN CRAFTS TO DO WITH YOUR KIDS
Click Here

FUN CRAFTS TO DO FOR YOURSELF
Click Here

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Angela's 'No Fail' Brownies

Our family has a certain brownie recipe we use. It's awesome and we all drool when we see them so I thought I'd share the wealth. It's more of a cake brownie than a fudgy one just to warn your fudgy brownie lovers.

Angela's No Fail' Brownies
It only now occurs to me that I'd always assumed that 'Angela' referred to my mom's sister Angela but I've never been told either way. In any case, I've always had some extra love for my Aunt Angela because of these brownies!

Ingredients:
1 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups sifted flour
1 tea salt
2 cups sugar
3/4 unsweetened cocoa
1 tea baking powder
4 eggs
2 tea vanilla

Instructions:
Melt shortening & cocoa together then set aside to cool
In one bowl sift flour with baking powder & salt
In another bowl beat eggs until white, then add sugar
Add cocoa mixture to egg mixture & blend well
Add in flour mixture & vanilla & mix well
Pour into 9"x13" pan
Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes until toothpick comes out clean

Top with powdered sugar, frosting, ice cream, or just eat them plain. They are delicious any way you eat them! Does anyone have a recipe for me?

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

20 of My Favorite 90's TV Shows

You know what I miss? After School Specials, more specifically shows that had a level of...morality. I don't know if that's the right word, but it seems like the shows I grew up with were a LOT more wholesome than the ones I watch now.

So I started making a list of some of my favorite 90's shows. It turns out, I have A LOT of favorite 90's shows. So I've cut it down as much as I could, I even completely excluded shows that were a little more adult since I was in junior high in the 90's. So here is a list of 20 of my favorite 90's shows.

Full House 87-95I think every girl chose a sister to be her favorite, and mine was Stephanie. Middle children rock!

Saved by the Bell 89-93When I think about a classic 90's show I think Saved By The Bell. Zack was the guy I crushed on for years and years!

Tales from the Crypt 89-96This show used to freak me out! That never stopped me from watching it though.

Family Matters 89-98
I would just swoon when dorky Steve turned into sexy Stephan. I often compare Tad's incredibly slow habits to Steve.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-air 90-96
Will Smith was then, is now, and will probably forever be one of my favorite actors. This is one of the funniest shows in history.

Salute Your Shorts 91-92
I have some fond memories of watching this with my little sister when we were tiny. The theme song was my favorite part.

Clarissa Explains it All 91-94
I love Melissa Joan Hart, and this is where I first met her. There was something about her life that reminded me of mine.

Are you afraid of the dark? 91-96
Yet another show I would watch huddled under a blanket with my hands pressed over my mouth.

Step by Step 91-98
Two broken families trying to make each other whole. That's just good tv.

Home Improvement 91-99
This show, more than any other show reminds me of my dad. He can do Tim Allen's grunt perfectly. Plus who didn't have a crush on J.T.T.

Boy Meets World 93-00
If you've followed this blog at all you know I'm a BMW fanatic. Best show EVER!!

Saved by the Bell The College Years 93-94
I was surprised at how much I liked this spin-off. Usually they're not so great, but I loved this one. Not to mention getting to see Zack and Kelly get married!!

Beakman's World 93-98
My little sister preferred Bill Nye The Science Guy, but I went the...grungier route. Beakman's awesome.

Sister Sister 94-99
I LOVE Tia and Tamera! It's such a funny show.

Hang Time 95-00
I played basketball from Junior High to graduation so you might guess why this show appealed to me. LOVE IT!

Flash Forward 96
When I was thinking about this post I kept thinking about this show. I only have vague memories of watching it, but I remember really liking it. So it goes on the list.

Sabrina the Teenage Witch 96-03
Yes, I know this was not the coolest show on, but for some reason I was addicted. I've always loved Melissa Joan Hart and this show is why. She reminds me a lot of my older sister (she hates Melissa and doesn't always like my comparison, but it is. I promise Danielle, it is).

Buffy the Vampire Slayer 97-03
I think a lot of people would be surprised at the depth of this show. It was funny and creative and had a really great storyline with a struggle between good and evil. Not to mention a totally awesome musical episode!

Dawson's Creek 98-03
I never watched this when it was originally on, but became addicted later on when it was showing 2 episodes a day. I'm a HUGE Pacy fan. Not to mention a HUGE Joshua Jackson fan.

The Amanda Show 99-02
Oh Amanda Bynes, I knew you were hilarious all the way back to your sketch comedy show. AWESOME!

So what shows were you addicted to in the 90's? I promise I wont laugh at you.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Easy, Cheap Tips For Making Your House Sell Faster

My Inlaws have recently put their home on the market, but I guess the potential buyers have been a little under-whelmed. While they have a great house, it is on the more modest size of the homes that surround it. It does, however, have some really great things going for it. Tad's mom is meticulously clean so their house is in perfect condition, it's a good size with a ton of storage, in addition to the 3 car garage attached to the house there's an extra monster of a garage 10 yards over that is the size of a small house, it's located in a sought after area of Heber City, and it's on a good sized lot. It really is a great house all I think it needs is a little freshening up.

Now when you take that and combine it with my (and Tad's) fanatic obsession of HGTV and you get this post. So here are my thoughts, ok mostly HGTV's thoughts, on what Tad's parents, and others can do to add some zing to their homes on the market.
2 of my favorite shows on HGTV that give great tips for this are
Designed to Sell click here for site
Get it Sold click here for site
Crank up the curb appeal
Pull weeds, rake leaves and trim overgrown shrubs, especially if they block windows or the path to your front door.
My Inlaw's have a big beautiful yard that is well taken care of by Tad's mom. I wouldn't change much, except maybe some kind of rocker or table or pot on the front porch.

Paint
It's important to make your house generic. A fresh coat of neutral paint will make your home appear larger, brighter and more appealing to potential buyers.

To be realistic most people aren't going to do a lot of re-painting. I'm not sure I would make the effort unless I had to get an offer ASAP.

Candice Tip: To add a little color to your bathrooms you can buy a cute bathroom set of towels, rugs, and shower curtains at places like Ross, TJ Max, Walmart or Target. It'll make a big different in a bland bathroom.

Make repairs
Fix things like leaky faucets and sticky cabinets, and replace old screens. They may seem insignificant, but minor repairs add up in the mind of a potential buyer. They tend to overestimate how much repairs cost. You don't want to give them any reason not to put in an offer.

I think it is SO TRUE that buyer overestimate repair/updating costs. I know I do.

Rearrange
Make sure your furniture placement allows for easy traffic flow and shows the purpose of each room. If you have too much furniture, rent a portable storage device to hold things until you are ready to move into your new place. If you don't have enough furniture, borrow or rent.

I am addicted to rearranging my furniture so I love this tip. One of the biggest thing they do on the shows on HGTV is change around the furniture. A lot of times they switch pieces from room to room. You want to make sure your furniture tells buyers what the room is for. Make it simple, clean and with a good flow.

Use tape outlines on the floor instead of actually moving furniture around.

Rearranging a room to stage it for your open house? Here is a tip to save time and effort: Instead of lugging the heavy furniture around the room to see what feels best, put outlines on the floor with painter's tape. Arrange the room according to your outlines, and save your energy for counting offers.

A clean and uncluttered kitchen is a staple of home staging.

Pack up
This includes personal photos and portraits. Less is always more. The less clutter and knickknacks you have lying around, the more potential buyers will be able to see your home and what it offers. Remember, you are selling your house, not your stuff. Plus, getting a head start on packing will eliminate some stress down the road.

Sometimes I think it's hard to de-personalize your house. I mean, it's YOUR house right?! That's the thing though, if your house is up for sale then it's not really your house anymore. So take down your family photographs and put up something that can show people how beautiful 'their' potential home is.

Pack up unnecessary items and furniture before you show the house.

An overpacked living room is a red flag to buyers that your home lacks storage space. Pack up unneccesary items and furniture, and move items to your garage or a nearby storage facility. Clear the way for a sale by letting buyers see your square footage, not your personal belongings.

Candice Tip: Replace your toothbrushes and razors with beautiful flowers, lotions, or soaps.

Stage rooms with one purpose so buyers will know what it is.

Potential buyers are confused by extra rooms that have a mishmash of uses. To avoid this problem, first clear away clutter and excess furniture. Paint the walls a neutral tone and then furnish the room with a desk to stage it as a home office in which buyers will want to get down to business.

Make sure you have the right furniture in the right rooms. Have your neighbors and friends come and give you their opinions because you aren't always the best judge.

Storage space sells!

Potential buyers love homes that have lots of storage space. Since they will open your closets, it's a good idea to clear out unnecessary clutter, and organize your shelves to show off how much storage you really have. Plus, it gives you a chance to start packing, as you will definitely be moving once buyers see all that closet space.

Candice Tip: Pack away your kitchen counter items like small appliances and show off the work space you've got. Put out a beautiful bowl with some fresh fruit and vegetables and maybe a plant or an old fashioned pitcher filled with flowers! Then your kitchen will speak for itself.

Organize
When your house is meticulously organized, buyers will envision themselves living a stress-free life in your home.

Candice Tip: Set your table with some cute dishes and place mats, even if you have to go buy a set at Walmart. You can always give them to the next nephew you have that gets married!

Clean
Clean every inch of your house, and don't forget to make your windows and floors sparkle. If your carpet appears old and stained, think about replacing it. Also, make sure there are no offensive odors. Purchase an air-neutralizing spray that will help remove odors without creating an overwhelming masking odor. Clean homes sell!

Lighten up your home with natural tones and a neutral dose of style.

Lighten up
Let the sun shine in, and turn on the lights. Open all blinds or curtains, and make sure the house is well lit.

Temperature
Be sure potential buyers are comfortable when touring your home. If it's freezing outside, leave the heat on, and if it's summer, turn on the air conditioner.

Candice Tip: Take your back patio and make it a lounge space. A couple of chairs and a small table is all you need. If you have a BBQ Grill to throw on there too then that's a huge bonus! Show people the possibilities of your home.

Keep it ready to show
It may be a little inconvenient, but until you accept an offer, keep your home in tip-top shape at all times. What this means is that each room should have a clear purpose, nice flow and be clean and clutter-free. Buyers need to be able to picture themselves and their things in a room, and taking these steps will help ensure that.

While it can be hard to remember to live like you don't live there it'll be worth it in the end!

If your home is coming off a little TOO NEURAL I would pick out a color or two and splash it around your home in different areas. Shower curtains, towels, rugs, dishes, throw pillows, flowers, trays, blankets..... The possibilities are endless! Also, simple things like replacing outdated hardware like doorknobs, hinges, light fixtures or cabinet knobs can make a big impact. If you're not a designer grab someone who's got a better eye and go shopping! I would start at yard sales and thrift shops, you never know what treasures you'll find! Good luck!

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