So back to the mouse problem. We’re going to be using mousetraps. I went to the store and found several types – inexpensive wood mouse traps, slightly more expensive reusable plastic mousetraps, humane mouse traps where you set the mouse free, and mouse bait (a poison I think). We’re going with the plastic reusable mousetraps, to try and save some money. Have you ever had a mouse problem and used mousetraps? What kind did you use?

Not long ago we discovered we had a mouse in the house. Or several mice. A mouse problem, basically. At first I’d noticed some packages in the cabinet looking like they’d been ripped open instead of opened nicely. I thought someone was just being careless after being in a rush to devour cookies. Then I bought a new package of cookies that looked the same, but I knew noone had touched it. I called my Dad and he confirmed that some little black specks I saw were in fact mouse droppings. Have you ever had a mouse problem in your house?

We love coffee in our house. For years we used paper coffee filters, until I found a gold coffee filter at a great price. I was intrigued, so I bought it. What a difference in taste it makes! The difference in taste is because a gold filter doesn’t absorb the oils of the coffee like a paper filter does, meaning the flavor stays with the coffee and not the filter. Plus, it’s a lot easier to clean – I just dump it out into the garbage. I greatly prefer that to having to remove a soggy paper filter and carry it to the garbage, hoping it doesn’t break or spill. A permanent filter will save money over time, by not having to buy paper filters any more. Plus it’s probably better for the environment as well. What kind of coffee filter do you use?

Decided that you want to redecorate your home but aren’t sure where to start? It’s not as daunting of a task as it may seem at first. The first thing you need to do is measure the room. Next, decide what stays and what goes. Now you need to narrow down your vision or goals of what you want the finished room to look like. Use the internet and magazines for pictures as well as ideas. Print out pictures featuring items you like and cut out those items. You can create a small model of your dream room by doing this. Just tape or glue them on to a piece of paper. The great thing about this is it doesn’t cost much and you’ll get an idea of how your room will look. Now determine what your budget is. Start browsing stores and the internet for pricing. Once you’ve found the best pricing and have your money you’re ready to purchase and decorate. Have fun!

Did you ever look at your bathroom and think it needs to be remodeled? One alternative to remodeling is simply redecorating. Change the theme of your bathroom, or if it doesn’t have a theme give it one. For under $100 you can easily change the look of your bathroom completely. Get a new curtain if you have a window, a toilet bowl seat cover, a couple of rugs, a new shower curtain and a few new accessories. For thousands less than it would cost to remodel your bathroom now has a whole new look. Isn’t this fish theme fun!

A few years ago when we added our second bathroom I discovered that there are toilet bowls of different heights. I had no idea, I always thought that all toilet bowls were the same height, that they only differed in design or efficiency. Some of the toilets on the market now are ADA compliant, for those with physical challenges. There’s about a four inch difference in height between the seat on a regular toilet and a tall, or extended height, toilet. I’m 5’10″ and didn’t think there would be much of a difference so we got the regular one. Now that I’ve used a tall model I wish I’d gotten it, it makes a big difference! Do you have a regular toilet or a tall one?

I don’t know about you but something I don’t like looking for is lamps. We have one table lamp in the bedroom that we got as a hand me down from a friend. We have two in our living room that were a gift. Other than those we have ceiling lighting. It isn’t because I don’t want any more lamps, it’s because I can never find ones that I really like.The ones in the stores are always too small, too big, or too ugly. Or, if I am lucky enough to find one that I like it’s not in my budget. I feel like I’m looking for a magic lamp – one that looks great and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

I love it! Wireless is truly the way to go. We redid my home network to be wireless recently. This was so I could get online with the laptop that I just got. I’m really enjoying being able to blog from somewhere other than the desk for a change. Earlier this week I was finally able to get my bluetooth headset for my cell phone to work. I did it because of the recent law change about driving and using a cell phone, but to my surprise discovered that I liked being able to talk without holding the phone. I think moving forward more and more things will take advantage of wireless. Do you connect to anything wirelessly?

We have a surround sound system in the living room. There’s a large bass speaker that’s on the floor on one side of the television. The small speaker sits on top of the television. There are four small surround speakers hanging from the ceiling, two on the television wall and two on the opposite wall. Then there are two sets of two speakers that are located on small end tables on each side of the sofa. I think we have too many speakers, I don’t even know what purpose a couple of them have. I also thought the ones on the end tables would look better on speaker stands but hubby said that stands wouldn’t fit on the tables. I’m curious. How many speakers do you have in your living room, or wherever you watch television the most?

I’ve seen the words thread count used pertaining to bed linens, but today I heard it used in another way and I was left wondering exactly what thread count means. So I came home and did a little research and a lot of surfing and this is what I found. Thread count is the number of threads, both vertical and horizontal, in a square inch. When something has a higher thread count it will be softer, wear better and shrink less. There are factors that influence thread count, such as the ply and thickness of the threads. I’ve never really noticed the thread count on our bed linens, because until last year we were buying hard to find king size waterbed sheets with pockets. Now I’ll have to stick my fingers into the packages when I’m shopping for bed linens to check out the feel. I bet the stores will appreciate that.