Elite Workmanship

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Eminent Advertising for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

When my Sweetie went to visit a friend in New York last year, she was so impressed with her friend’s kitchen and bathroom. She kept on bragging about how stylist and functional and modern her friend’s kitchen. She said that the workmanship of the contractor is excellent. No wonder Elite Kitchen and Bath have been in the renovation and remodeling business for 3 decades now. They have been serving the residents of NY since 1984 and well-known for their great reputation through their work and satisfied homeowners.

In my line of work, I believe that every single part of the house we build, remodel and renovate should be given utmost important. Careful planning and design should be considered in order to achieve the homeowners’ expectations. And I believe all contractors feel the same way. So I am not surprised why Elite KB's excellent reputation is shown in their Kitchen Showroom New York and Bath Showroom New York. Their kitchen and bath showroom New York not only prove a well-executed design but a total work of art.

With my Sweetie’s friend, I believe she was happy with her contractor. She has nothing but positive words for the Elite KB guys who worked on her kitchen and bathroom. She was impressed with the workers’ work ethics and dedication to their job. And she highly recommends Elite KB to all her friends in the Greater New York and Long Island areas who may need their services.
And for that, I can’t blame her.

Your Million-Dollar Home for Less

Home design is like creating your own piece of art -- whatever comes out of it becomes a representation of who you are as a person; an embodiment of your likes, taste, and personal preferences. So as much as it takes a great deal of effort, time, and energy, deciding on a design or theme for home can turn out to be an ordeal especially if one lacks knowledge on the matter.

One of the most common goals homeowners set in home design is to achieve a classy, elegant look. And contrary to what many might think, it actually does not require a million dollars or more to design your home in such a way that it looks expensive. The key is buying the right light fixtures and simply putting them all in the right places.

Lighting is a major element in design; bad lighting can ruin wonderful design concepts and can also bring out the best even in mediocre ones. And in the attempt to create a luxurious, million-dollar home, lighting can be your number one ally. Here are some tips on how you can light your home to envy-worthy, head-turning, and jaw-dropping opulence:

1. Let as much natural light into the indoors.
Have you noticed how Hollywood has depicted homes of the rich and famous to be -- always light, sleek, and vibrant? If you have big windows, allow generous amount of sunlight into your home by putting on sheer, cotton curtains in light or pastel colors. This will give your interiors a soft, clean, and classy finish.

2. Invest on quality indoor and outdoor lighting.
While it's true that you don't have to be a millionaire to be able to live in a luxurious-looking home, some investments may still have to be necessary. Quality lighting does come at a hefty price, but it's always worth it. These fixtures are energy-efficient, safe, and most of all, long-lasting. If you'd like to take a look at some luxury lights - click here.

3. Learn the art of layered lighting.
Many times, installing just one light fixture in each of the rooms may not be enough because there are instances in which the effect you would like to achieve requires layered lighting. For instance, the home study or office may seem like it would do with just one directional light and nothing else, but actually, work spaces require more than just task lighting that will give direct illumination on your keyboard, notes, or books; they also need ambient lighting to keep stress levels lower and reduce the risk of migraine that often results from too much glare from the computer monitor. In this case, your ambient lights can even double as a decorative fixture and give your home office a classy, upscale feel.

4. The perfect chandelier is always worth it.
Going for a single, head-turning focal point is usually more effective than dressing up every nook and cranny of the house; overdoing the ornamentation can even turn out to be tacky and tasteless. In this case, a gorgeous pendant light or chandelier of the right size and the appropriate design will be enough to do the trick.

About the Guest Writer:

Cedric Loiselle is a highly talented writer who enjoys imparting useful information about home improvement to his readers. For lighting options, he highly recommends interior-deluxe.com.

Protection we all need in this highly techie world

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bitdefender for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I signed up for Facebook just recently. Yes, I’m a late bloomer. While my Sweetie had been facebooking since it started, I am just starting to learn the rope. It was not easy I tell you for a 50 [plus] year-old man like me. And boy, I whine a lot about it, so Sweetie asked me why I signed up in the first place. “I want to know what you are about to, that’s why.” I replied. She just laughed knowing in her mind that I am trying to spy on her. But then all she has on her account are her blog updates and family and friends’ whereabouts.

The computers are very important pieces of equipment in our household. I, my Sweetie and my boy would probably get nuts without it. While Sweetie needs it for blogging and making contact with her family and friends back home and of course, online shopping… I need it for my business and bank transactions and yes, a little bit of online shopping too for my hobbies [shhhhh, don’t let my Sweetie know]. And for my boy, he needs it for his “you tube” watching and online video game playing.

That is why keeping a secured network is very important us. It is our top priority to block threats and internet virus that may cause damage to sensitive information we have in our computers.

Having an antivirus technology is one way of doing it. But which one really works? There are lots of antivirus technologies in the market that promise to provide network security. I tried quite a few to be honest with you and I am still in search for a new one because our computer is still vulnerable.

The search is over, perhaps for me now that I found BitDefender – the next generation of the No. 1 ranked antivirus technology. It earned the most coveted CNET Editor's Choice and PCMag Editor's Choice award. This new technology software in the market takes security and privacy to a whole new level.

Bitdefender provides state-of-the-art and user-friendly and proactive protection from computer threats such us viruses, spam, phishing attacks, hackers and more advanced safeguard features that I think are very important as well like online backup, social networking protection for my Sweetie, parental controls for my boy – which is my favorite feature. And for me, the most remarkable feature is Bitdefender’s proprietary secured browser that can safeguard my online transactions and home banking applications from all tampering attempts.

But don’t just take my words for it, make your own investigations. Here are some of the cool features of Bitdefender Total Security that may give you a great impression of the new software:

BitDefender Autopilot: BitDefender operates on its own, without a pop up every 5 minutes. Enjoy your computer experience without constant interruptions

Bitdefender Anti-Theft: BitDefender protects you from more than just online threats; it can track lost or stolen devices!

Social Network Protection: Filters the links you receive from your Facebook and Twitter friends and monitors your privacy settings.

Parental Control Options: BitDefender allows you to block inappropriate content, restrict Web access between certain hours, and it helps you remotely monitor your children's online activity – even on Facebook!

Bitdefender’s 2013 solutions are designed to operate on multiple computer environments, including PCs that function mostly off-line or in a secure LAN, to computers with always-on, unfiltered Internet connections.
And this year also comes with an increased focus on useful services such as Safebox, Device Anti-Theft, and Parental Control, but also on the secure and convenient management of your services – with the new MyBitdefender. Its improved dashboard also allows you to view and even control installed applications and mobile devices.

Convinced now? What are you waiting for, you can get your Bitdefender’s 2013 Antivirus softer from Business  http://www.business2community.… And do you know that you can enter to win a computer installed with Bitdefender here? Act now and so you can get a chance to be a winner.

The “S” word

Don’t say the “S” word if my Sweetie is around. I’ve learned my lesson years ago. This is not just true for my Sweetie alone but for most women I know and that include my 2 daughters and my mommy dearest. What is the “S” word? It stands for “SALE”. It also stands for “shopping and store”. So if you don’t want to get in trouble, then don’t say the “S” word. LOL. But then, even if I kept my silence, those 4 girls in my life find their way to the shopping mall every time there is huge sale, bargain, clearance, discount, and what-have-yous. I think it’s a woman’s basic instinct or maybe it’s in their genes. I really don’t know.

Recently, I got a little worried. My Sweetie has not been in the store lately except there regular weekends trip to the grocery store to buy our food supplies. Oh yes, I surely know if she has been in any store no matter how hard she tried to keep it secret from me. Though I secretly celebrate, I was kinda worried. It’s very unlikely of her. So I investigate.  She doesn’t go shopping in the store anymore. She shops – online! Ha!

I wouldn’t know about it if I didn’t come home and received one of her packages delivered at the house. Aha! Caught red-handed, she told me that she bought new pairs nikeid size 7 metal cleats for my boy and a nice menssoccer sweat pants zippered ankle for me in my color and other new stuff for the new grill for our summer weekends cookout. Well, I had to admit I was kinda impressed because when I saw the receipt, she did get a good deal.

So now do you think online shopping change anything at all in our relationship? Yes, it did. I become an online shopper now too. I realized that Become.com is the coolest online comparison shopping website where you can find thousands of cool stuff where you can compare prizes and brands from almost all leading retail stores. Become.com serves as an efficient search engine for wise buyers who don’t only want to save money but time as well. They provide a comparison shopping technology which is an effective tool to sort out large selection of products and shop for discounts and lowest prizes you could imagine. And yes, I got myself a bike rack for suv walmart brand with discount coupon.
Well, I am not really well verse in shopping lingo like my Sweetie. All I know is that, I love Become.com because I don’t have to drive my Sweetie to the Mall and wait for hours while she browses over hundreds of items and comparing prizes. She can go shopping in her PJs while doing the laundry and preparing my lunch. Now, with Become.com, you can go ahead… and say the “S” word!

The Long Trip Ever

Yes, I did not win over my Sweetie about taking a long trip to California to see her dear cousin. We did take a road trip to California and I had to admit we did have a blast. We need to stop in every key city that we passed by of course, so that she can take photos… hundred of them… for her blogs. I can’t complain since I am a willing victim anyway. LOL.

The road trip took longer that I expected. But I am not complaining, we had a wonderful time bonding with each other. And by the way, we took my Ford F-150 truck instead of her car so I don’t have to worry about breaking down on the road in the middle of nowhere and have problem looking for an auto shop.

We did stop once to check engine light but other than that we did fine. And as my Sweetie said… "don’t worry… because San Diego auto repair is just a call away". Oh well, I cannot argue with that too. Knowing that it is one of the most reliable auto shops in San Diego area, I know that I can have a peace of mind.

Reliable Maintenance Services

Building a property is one thing. Maintaining one is another.

As a carpenter, when we laid the last brick or the last shingle our work is done. After the key is turned over to the owner, our job is over. And when we finally left the property with our entire tools and building materials stack at the back of our truck from the smallest as the nails to the biggest as the ladder, our concern has ended.

As the property owner, their work starts as soon as we walk away. It is in their hands to continue what we had started. It is their duty to keep the property in good shape. And it is their responsibility to maintain the property accordingly. That is why most of our clients seek commercial property maintenance services to ensure that their properties are well-taken care of.

If you are looking for the best Commercial Property Maintenance Services nationwide, check out PipeStone.biz. Pipestone provides a comprehensive commercial property maintenance services like landscaping, plumbing, pest control, snow plowing, repair and other important maintenance services needed to ensure full functionality of any commercial property.

Maintaining a property is a real pain-in-the-you-know-what, but having a trusted and reliable maintenance services at your beck and call makes it easier.

This is a Sponsored Post.

For My Eyes Only

I need a new pair of eyeglasses. That’s what I told my Sweetie this morning.

I don’t know about other people, but I tend to lose or misplace my eyeglasses every now and then. And I hate looking for it. That is why I need to have at least a couple of pairs in two strategic places where I usually need them… the bedroom and my truck. Well, what do you expect from a 52 year old guy? I even didn’t realize they were on top of my head the other day when I was going crazy looking for it. I was so mad at myself.

Although I can read without my eyeglasses on, compared to my Sweetie, I do need one specially when I am working to make sure that I am reading the right measurement on my measuring tools so that I will not make a mistake in cutting or marking the building materials.

And speaking of eyeglasses, the only thing that I don’t like about it is the price. I don’t know why it cost so much. But then I’m glad that my Sweetie is very resourceful that she was able to find a real good deal online. Thanks, again Sweetie.

Building an Energy Saving Home

In this time where the economy is really tough, it really takes a lot of skill and talent for any household to make both ends meet. It takes a lot of hard work and even sacrifices to keep one’s head afloat in this sinking economy. And to be able to do that, Energy saving tips are very important tools that can help family run their household without sacrificing their basic necessities.

As a builder, we owe it to our clients to help them in any way we can even beyond the concept of construction. Well, with our basic knowledge on home building, we sure have additional knowledge too on home energy tips that we can share to our clients especially those new homeowners on how to manage their house more efficiently and effectively. Tips like using energy saving home appliances that can help them cut down on their bills is just one.

Well, I may not be an expert on running the house as compared to my Sweetie but sure we have an important tool that we use to help us manage our household – Hohm. This website is like a Financial Manager that helps you monitor your expenses and energy consumption and gives you recommendations and tips on how to save energy. Hohm even provides important tips and links where you can get rebates and special offers to bring more money to your piggy bank.

Life is tough, indeed. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that there is no hope. We do have hope and we have the means that can help us make our home more energy efficient. There is a tool that can provide us the basic knowledge not only to save energy but to save money as well. So, why not take action now? Sign up for aFREE and start SAVING.

This is a Sponsored Post.

The Carpenter is a Caregiver too

I'm playing Doctor today. No, I was playing Doctor since last weekends. Wifey was down with a flu so I was her caregiver. But I think she feels a lot better now. Thanks God!

She is a whiner! Shhhhhhhhhhhh! [Hope she won't take a peek of my blog and read about this.] wink* Yes, she was constantly whining because she was not feeling good. Well she does whine even if she is not sick anyway so it doesn't make a lot of difference too. LOL. But even if she is a whiner, I still love her to death!

I'm playing Doctor now because Wifey always plays Doctor to me every night when I come home from work. Working all day on the roof take a big toll on my back and climbing the ladder more than a hundred times would worn my legs down at night. So I will be whining about my sore body every time I come home. And I will ask Wifey to rub my back with that magic ointment that she brought from the Philippines and that will instantly calmed the tight muscles down. Well, she would whine a bit when I asked her to do that especially if she is busy working online but nevertheless, she will take a break and give me her loving touch.

So now that she is the one sick, it's my turn to return the favor. And I tell you, I am not so happy that she is sick. She is not grumpy or anything, it's just that I want her to the her old bubbly self even if she is constantly whining like a baby.

of Backache and Sea Urchin

Backache! Who needs one?

One of the downsides of my trade as a carpenter is the big "P". Pain, that is.

I have been working as a carpenter for more than 15 years now. It may not be that long for a guy past his golden years but being able to still do hard manual work at this age is already a blessing in itself.

I started a little late in the construction business because I did a lot of scuba diving for sea urchins for almost 10 years prior to carpentry. I worked under-water diving for sea urchins for 8 hours a day and 7-days a week on peak seasons. And I consider that as the most exciting job I ever had... not to mention the pay. wink*

Scuba diving for me is not just a job but it's a hobby. And to be able to enjoy my hobby and make money out of it is a good thing, isn't it? But some good things never last... as the saying goes. Sea urchins became scarce and so the work hours. It was then time to find something else to do and move on.

And so I moved on and shifted to carpentry but my passion for scuba diving didn't die when I quit the job. And definitely I will be sharing more experiences and photos of my passion in the near future.

Bathrooms

The bathroom is one of the important rooms in the house next to the kitchen.

Gone are the days where our forefathers used the woods to do their private business. Nowadays, bathrooms are as functional as the owner's lifestyle.

So even in this tough economy, we still make sure that the bathrooms provide a comfortable place for someone to be at ease with nature's call. LOL.

Of decks and porches

Deck or porch is one part of the house which is very easy to build. It takes 3 to 1 week depending on the size of it and the materials being used.

Decks add beauty to the house. However, the functionality and purpose of the decks or porches can go beyond the authentic aspect of it.

Decks and porches can serve as additional room [with or without a roof] where you can entertain friends.

Decks and porches are good for hanging out during hot summer days to watch the sunrise or sunset.

Decks and porches are the best place and the first part of the house that one uses to enter the home sweet home. Want one of these? No problem just...

From useless Porch to Hot Spot

Having a hot tub right next to your bedroom or the kitchen is a welcome retreat from a hard day's work.

This is one of the addition we made this month for a farmer who works so hard in his farm the whole day braving a hat day under the fiery sun and dusty ground.

The new addition was a former screened porch that was used only for keeping their stuff what they no longer use or need. In other words... it was a useless room. And since it is useless we remodelled the old porch and turned it into something usefull.

The new addition is now a new room where they entertain friends and guests.

Remodeling

Remodeling is an option.

Remodeling depends on the owner’s taste, needs, and budget.

Remodeling is inevitable.

Remodeling is renovating and reinventing lifestyle.

If you want to keep your home safe, remodeling is the way to do it. If you want to update your home to go with your growing family, remodel it. If you want to maintain your home’s good appearance, remodeling can be an alternative choice to do it.