sponsored post

Hello darlings,

When was the last time you read a car magazine? What? It's a legitimate question you guys, come on!  A, B, or C?

A) The last time I was in the doctor's office and I only read the Zodiac signs at the end. 

B) Yesterday when I was having breakfast.

C) Girl, are there really car magazines? 

If you answered A or C then you are my type of person. For those of you that answered B, I really don't know who you are. At all! I mean, I usually can get the gist of my readers but you got me puzzled, lol!

So, if you are like me you don't really know many things about cars. You know how to drive them, you know the steps to take to keep them running (take them to the shop), you may even know how to check the oil and clean them. Oh! And you do know what you like in a car, right?

But do you really know how to choose one? I mean if you have a family of 2.5 kids - OK let's make it a 2 for convenience sake - and a specific budget to spend on a new car, how would you go around choosing the one best for you?

Would you ask your husband, dad, boyfriend for help? I mean they are the ones that DO read car magazines after all. Some of them could tell you technical stuff about cars that would make your head spin. Or yawn your head off. Or yawn while your head spins. Well you get my drift.

If you want to make an informed decision on your own before you start talking to your significant other, one way to go is use Cars.com. Those guys make it easy for everyone to choose their dream car. You can choose by brand or body type, do a search for popular cars, and you can find new and used ones too. Basically they have it all in one site.

If I were to get a new car now my top decision making factors would include:

- Overall car safety. How the cars responds to accidents, what are the most prominent safety features, what are the extra safety features, crash test information. Kids car seat latch system (Isofix).

- Fuel consumption, type of fuel, eco-friendliness (is that even a word?).

- Price and how to pay off. 

- Luggage and seat space. Having kids tends to minimize the available space in any room let alone a car! So the bigger, the better!

- Looks. Well ok it would be last on my list but still.

I know Nick would add many other factors to the list and extensively research each and every one (his a little control freak this husband of mine) but I am happy with these factors for now. 

What about you? What do you look for in a car? Have you changed many cars so far? Which one did you like the most and why?

People often say that one of the most stressful things that the average person does in their lifetime is moving home. As a person who has had to move more times than I care to remember I can totally attest to that! There are many different things that you need to take care of when moving house and it is because there is so much that people sometimes overlook or forget certain things like cancelling the milk. When you prepare and plan your move, you can help to reduce a lot of the stress and also ensure that you do not forget anything and here is some advice to get you started.

Make A Checklist

· Inform banks and creditors

· Inform Utilities

· Inform doctors and dentists

· Arrange quotes from moving companies

· Cleaning

· Cancelling subscriptions

Always Have Contingencies In Place

This pattern is written in US crochet terms

Ch: chain

Hdc: half double crochet

Dc: double crochet

Trc: treble crochet

Sl st: slip stitch

Blo: back loop only

Tog: together

MC: magic circle

With pink yarn make a long chain of 120chs and leave a long tail in order to add chains if needed. Thread the one end of the chain and start from the top of the hat. Between R1 and R2 pass the chain through one back post of the DC in the pattern and then through the front post of the DC. It's like a ladder sewing stitch really, just pass front to back to the end of the row. Then go down the next rows and repeat the process in the third row and then the fifth one and lastly in eighth row. Fasten off and secure the yarn. 

Then using pink, sage and yellow yarn make the braids at the bottom of the earflaps. With the same colors make a pom pom and attach it to the top of the hat.

You made it!!!

My little Fratzolaki enjoyed her hat very much and she wore it all through last winter. It held very well with the repeated washing but I had no doubt it would with such a great yarn. This year I think I am going to make her a cable hat. I hope you'll enjoy my pattern!

Lots of love

Hello darlings!

When it comes to finding a house to make your home, do you ever find yourself wishing for something... a little bit different?

Almost without exception around the globe, the way we live our lives is very similar - especially when you consider the buildings we choose to make our homes. Every culture tends to live in little stone boxes. Sometimes those boxes are big; sometimes they are built high into the sky; sometimes they are built beneath sea level. Mostly, though, what unifies them is more notable than what doesn't. Overall, you will see much of the same kind of pattern the world over.

Structures that are divided into rooms, usually some sort of square, often with some garden out the front. They tend to be owner-occupied, though most countries have a roaring rental market too. When buying or renting, people find themselves thinking about the local transport links, the amenities, how long their commute might be to work. On every inhabited continent, much of how and why we buy our homes is incredibly similar.

So what if you fancy stepping outside the basics and finding a different kind of home to live in? To tempt yourself, you might need to move abroad to find a unique home that can satisfy your desire for something different. But if you want to take an adventure, then exploring a house move such as the ones mentioned below, could just result in the biggest adventure of your life...

#1 - A Lighthouse

Source

If we're honest, lighthouses are rather outdated technology now. They look picturesque, stunning, and somewhat romantic - but they’re not necessary to ensure ships stay away from shore. There are a few exceptions around the world but, for the most part, lighthouses are no longer needed as the primary method of keeping ships safe.

That means that you can live in one if you so choose.

Buying an old lighthouse and transforming it into a home is not an easy task. It’s a big renovation, especially as most lighthouses were never built with the intention of being a home - so they’re going to need insulation and all kinds of developments to bring them up to scratch. If, however, you don’t mind a challenge, then glorious views over the ocean will be your reward.

#2 - Public Housing

A huge number of countries have a history of public housing, which tend to be rather retro buildings that haven’t changed much since their construction. This can be perfect if you like to step back in time, as well as appreciate the idea of a ready-made neighborhood to settle into.

You might be thinking that if they’re public housing, how can you possibly buy one? Countries tend to have a few options. For example, in Singapore you can find HDB resale properties that anyone can buy; HDB being ‘housing development board’, originally state owned but now moved into public hands. The UK has a similar system through its “Right To Buy” scheme, meaning that many publicly-owned homes are now in private ownership. For an instant community and a touch of the past, investigating public housing options might be the best decision you’ve ever made.

#3 - Boats

Source

You might associate the idea of home ownership as involving foundations and a house, but why should it? If you live on a river - or are happy to move to somewhere located on a river - then you can’t go far wrong with a houseboat.

Houseboats offer a sense of freedom that you’re never going to be able to get with conventional bricks and mortar. While you will most likely have a permanent mooring spot, that doesn’t mean you can’t sail off elsewhere if you fancy a weekend away - and all without having to worry about a hotel either. You will be more vulnerable to the weather than you would be with a standard house, admittedly, but then again you won’t have any reason to be concerned about flooding when your house floats.

Houseboats are surprisingly practical and also surprisingly affordable, especially if you’re happy to exchange a large living space for the freedom they offer. If you’ve got the true spirit of an adventurer, then there are few purchases that will suit you quite like a houseboat will.

#4 - Old Nuclear Bunkers

Okay, so this one is a little out of left field - but that wasn’t meant to be the idea! It’s true; there are people living and working from their very own nuclear bunkers.

For the most part, these sites are found in the USA or China, so if it appeals then you’re going to need to move. The bunkers tend to be bought by private residents from the state; the state tends to be keen to offload them, as most are no longer serviceable for their intended use. That doesn’t mean they can’t make decent homes, though - but of course, you have to be content with living at least partially underground.

The one thing that might hold you back is how rare these properties are; and most of the occupants don’t intend to put them on sale any time soon. Still, it’s always worth exploring if you’re a prepper or love the idea of such an unusual place to call home. It might be cramped and not quite the perfect house that you always dreamed of, but at least it’s something different!

There are undoubtedly a lot of challenges if you choose a more unconventional home. It means you might have to move to another country - though that’s something millions of people do by choice anyway. However, the fact that you’re going to be adapting to a non-modern, basic house is a big leap, so you have to be ready and truly committed to the idea of finding something unusual. This isn’t the kind of decision to make on a whim, but if you can commit to it, then living in such a unique and unusual abode might be the perfect fit for you - happy hunting!

Do let me know if any of the above would meet your choice! I'd love to see if you are into a different type of housing!

September is my favorite month. I've said it before and I will say it again, the start of the year for me is September. Weird I know but I've always thought of it that way. I guess spending all those years of school and studies does that to a girl, huh?

Honestly, I've always associated the start of fall with the start of everything new. New school year, new supplies, new beginnings. I've never had a New Years resolutions, I've always had all my plans and resolutions start at the beginning of September. Starting a diet, going back to the gym, starting a new hobby, everything has been associated with this month.

The days of back to school are long past for me and Natalia has still many years before going to school but I am going back to work this September for the first time since giving birth. I am really bummed about leaving Natalia to her grand-moms but a small part of me is happy to be going back to the lab too. I always miss my experiments when I am away from them for too long. If you didn't know I am weird already here some more random things you didn't know about me. However, this time I think I'd rather stay home with my little girl than go back to work. It's not going to happen but still, I wish it would. 

It is however high time for my to go back to being fit. It's after all my fall resolution to start getting back in shape. I need my stamina to keep up with Natalia since she started walking a few days ago and I want to be able to run with her and play with her when I get back from work each evening. The thing you don't probably know about me is that I used to spent 8-9 hours a week at the gym before I met Nick. And, no, he is not responsible for my lack of exercise, I am. I've slacked big time on that field cause I really did like crocheting and crafting way more than I did HIIT.

My plan was to get a personal trainer and I only wish I could find a great one like Stephen Coleclough to help me get fitter and healthier. However, it's not going to happen where I live and I need to find the next best thing. So, I am writing down some of my favorite things to do fitness-wise and then I am going to make a calendar and find 2 to 3 times a week to do those things. I will not delude myself thinking of making it 8 hours in the gym, I mean come on, I want to spent time with my kid. So, one of the things I like is walking fast on the treadmill while crocheting or watching my favorite series online. I am also thinking of starting jogging in the near by park, so it's also time to invest to a great pair of fitness pants. I know it will not be the same as having a personal trainer but I will try to become my own. I am also thinking of downloading some phone apps in the regard. I'll let you know if I find one that's worth the while.

Last but not least, it's time to get started on the holiday season preparations for etsy. I know some of you may think is way to soon to talk Christmas but in the handmade retail things start sooner rather than later. I am happy to tell you that I will be offering more crocheted goods this year, like hats and blankets and a few fun bookmarks like the one I made of a unicorn.



I hope this September will treat all of us well and all our new beginnings will find us healthy and feisty! What are your plans? Do you have any fall resolutions? What are you doing to keep fit this season? I'd love to hear your plans!

Hello darlings!

Many of us do not get the opportunity to build and design our houses that we live in, so if you get the chance, it is one that is worthwhile taking. However, you need to make sure that you do not go into a situation such as building your own home, without any prior knowledge, so you will need to do plenty of research on the subject. An excellent place to start would be to read through various online references which has plenty of advice on independent contractors. Unfortunately, the plumbing industry can sometimes get a bad reputation as there are some sub-standard contractors out there, but with the right research, you will be able to find a reputable and reliable one that will soon get the water running in your new home.

Have Your Plans Ready

Before you even start to look at plumbers, you will need to make sure that you have a set of plans that you can show potential contractors, so they will be able to quote you for their services. If possible, you should ask the architect for a couple of extra sets of plans for the various contractors that will need them during the build. Once you have the plans, you will then need to start the search for your plumbing contractor.

You may know a plumber already, or you can ask friends, family, and colleagues for any recommendations that they may have. As much as you may trust the person that recommends a plumber to you, take it under advisement and always speak to other contractors as well.

Whether you are looking for commercial plumbers in Brisbane, or anywhere else in Australia, the internet can get you a list of companies that are all close to your location, and as well as providing you with links to their websites and contact details, it can also give you so much more. There are many independent review sites where people leave reviews of their dealings with a company, whether they be good, bad, or indifferent. When you have draw up a shortlist of potential contractors to hire, it is time to contact each of them.

When you start your search for a plumber to plumb your home, your main criteria should not only be the overall price. You should also be looking for a level of service and professionalism in the contractors you talk to, and you want to be made to feel at ease. Speak to each one of them and show them the plans, ask as many questions as you can and judge each one on their answers and reactions to you.

When you have spoken to each one of the potentials and have been able to receive their quotes, as well as judge their level of service, you will then be able to make an informed decision as to which one to hire for the job. You will want to choose a balance of price, level of service, and also reputation; and before you know it, your new home will be one step closer to being ready for you to move in!