Works of Art in Unexpected Places!

Walking around this beautiful neighborhood, I never understood why homes had such elaborate fencing. That was, until, I realized it was like a decoration for your home. Most of the fences outside the homes in this area are actually as beautiful as the homes themselves. Fence installation in Winston Salem NC is not only the installation of something to keep people out but it is also a design to draw people in! If you look at some of the beautiful work on the fences in our area, stop to take a closer look, you’ll never know what kind of an appreciation you may have for its design.

My Only DC Worry!

I was having a hard time trying to find roofing in Washington DC because although it is a fairly residential city, most of the district’s citizens live in apartments and therefore have no real need for roofing services. I was trying to find a roofer that wouldn't overcharge me for being one of the very few who owns their own home in D.C. and after weeks of trying to patch up a hole in my roof, I saw there was going to be a storm and finally caved. I had the job done before the storm and even scheduled a follow up after it was said to be over to make sure the roof was still in good shape.

Moving is a Pain

Moving is a huge pain… moving to Alexandria VA from upper NW DC is even more of a pain. Though I have a car and my roommate also has a car, they are sedans. There is no way that I can fit all of our things inside both of those cars no matter how many trips we take from DC to VA. Our original move from only a few blocks away was even a pain; we knew we needed to enlist as many people as possible to help us. After asking all of our friends, we still couldn't find anyone willing to take the fragile things or our mattresses. Because of that we were having so many unbelievable problems trying to find movers. Finally, when we hired them, we realized how much we actually had and we needed to have as many movers help us as possible! I am so thankful we went with movers instead of trying to do it ourselves.

Fencing Fun

For most people, coming to San Clemente means going to the beach, surfing or hiking. For me, it means living here with my family in peace and quiet. We live in a small residential neighborhood and I never thought to have a fence before, but as my neighbors started to install pools and decks, more of them began looking for fencing in San Clemente CA. I realized that my deck, pool, and even my swing-set for my children are completely exposed to the street. While I don’t think we live in a dangerous place, I really don’t need the added stress of watching the kids every single time they are playing in the yard. This way, the fence we installed was not only helpful for keeping out unwanted visitors (animals that ruin my garden) it also keeps my children safe and restores my sanity.

Moving Offices?

We’re moving offices this week and things are getting pretty hectic. Fortunately, we found some great movers in Fairfax VA to help make the transition to our new location much smoother. They provided us with some great packaging equipment including huge, reusable boxes and lots of bubble wrap. They’ll also be here on Wednesday to pack all of our boxes up, and help remove and move some of the larger pieces in the office. They've made my life, as the office coordinator so much easier! 

Cross-Country

I thought that getting a new job was going to be one of the most exciting times in my life. I’m still young, learning and its very early in my career. I was moving from San Francisco to Washington DC and as I looked around my small cramped living space that I called my West Coast home, I didn’t have that much stuff.  My bed is a full, my dresser is extremely light and from a thrift store, I figured I’d just pack up my car and see the country on my way to my new job. It made it even more exciting to begin packing. I got to D.C. without any problems along the way which is seemingly unheard of, and then I realized… I live in a five floor walk up, I’m in a new city, I don’t know anyone, and I have big pieces of furniture to move. I had my brothers help me in California, how was I going to do this alone? I pushed the mattress thinking that would work but it budged only about an inch. Twenty minutes into being drenched in the DC summer morning sun, I looked into a moving company in Montgomery County MD. Do not try and move by yourself, I’m sure it could be done, but I’ve never heard a success story!

Thanksgiving Come and Gone

December. Thanksgiving has come and gone, but my carpets are still stained from where my dear Uncle Fred dropped his overloaded plate.  We cleaned it up the best we could, but I think my carpets are going to need a little extra TLC. They’re still hurting from last Thanksgiving when clumsy Uncle Fred spilled his wine! I’ve thought about seeking professional carpet cleaning in Riverview FL, but haven’t made the plunge yet. I’ve lived here my entire life, and have always attempted to clean my own carpets. But then, last week, my neighbor got their carpets cleaned. I couldn’t believe the difference! Carpet cleaning is now at the front of my mind, and if I’m going to let these carpets live through next year’s Thanksgiving, it’s time to take the plunge.

Puppy Training!

Having a new puppy is hard work! My daughter wanted a beagle for her birthday and worked hard around the house to get one. We all fell in love with Bopper as soon as we named her, but we were not as prepared as we thought to potty train her. As you can expect, accidents ensued on our white carpet… thankfully I looked up carpet cleaning in Brandon FL after I tried everything to get the stains out on my own.  It turns out, my carpet cleaners made the situation even worse. Next time, I’ll call them first! 

Winston Tore Up My Carpet!

Our pets are our best friends. If your cat’s anything like my Winston, he may wake you up in the morning by nuzzling against your face or think the best time to play is 3 am. He may also have gotten a bit confused between the cat tower and your carpet. Yep, that’s right my cat tore my carpet apart! I wasn't sure if there was a way to fix patches of ripped up carpet, but called my local carpet repair company in Tampa FL who assured me they could have it fixed in no time.  They were able to patch up the holes Winston created and leave the carpet looking brand new! Don’t worry, I've already moved Winston’s cat tower! 

The Benefits Of Hiring A Fencing Contractor

Are you debating whether you should build your fence yourself or hire a fence contractor in Paramus NJ? Question no further! Fence contractors can help make your fencing dreams a reality. Not only do they provide quality materials, they’re able to suggest new trends and designs which can revitalize your lawn. They also handle all of the zoning, so all you have to do is research the right contractor for you. 

Moving On Up!

My brother called me this morning with the following news: "Its official, I’m moving to Arlington VA!" Like with all of our moves, he called me to help research the top things to do in Arlington, so we decided to share that list with all of you…

1. Arlington Cemetery – A military cemetery where veterans of every American war since the Revolution are buried
2. Synetic Theater – In December they will be putting on their version of A Midsummers Night’s Dream
3. DEA Museum – Am I the only one who can’t get over the loss of Breaking Bad?
4. Take a tour of the pentagon – Apparently this is a great look into the mission of the DoD
5. Theodore Roosevelt Island – a great way to get out of the city life and enjoy 2 ½ acres of foot trails
6. Skating at Kettler Capitals Iceplex  - can’t wait to skate on the ice the Capitals practice on! 

Moving Any Time Soon?

Moving can seem like a scary task sometimes (from my move... it was). Between the sheer amount of stuff that needs to be transported, or fragile furniture items, a lot of people are scared of the idea. You need someone you trust to handle all the valuable possessions and to be able to make the move in a timely fashion. My move to Texas was not ideal and actually turned into a big problem. The company did not deliver in the time frame they said they would and it cause too many issues to even begin describing in here.

Be sure to contact the local Fairfax, VA moving professionals to see if they can help with your move. Some companies can help with other tough moving items such as pianos and other heavy, awkward furniture that requires care. I have heard horror stories in the past (along with mine) so now I know to not just call any moving company. It can have a major impact on your overall moving experience.

Also, feel free to call movers Rockville MD if that is a closer location for you! 

Holiday Season Is Upon Us

As you are aware (or not because you want the summer to last longer) the holidays are just around the corner. And whether you like it or not, this means company will be arriving at your home very soon. Instead of rearranging your furniture to cover that red wine stain from the other weekend, or the not so lovely carpet stain the dog left last week, call the local Tampa FL carpet cleaning experts! You can always try cleaning on your own with bleaching products but they may remove some of the natural color in your carpet. Having your carpet professionally cleaned will leave you feeling confident and ready for the slew of friends and family that are about to arrive! 

P.S. The good news is there is always football or basketball to escape to if the in-laws won't stop asking about your job or how many kids you plan on having...

New to Austin

I'm a new transplant to Austin, husband to a loving wife, pal to a loving dog, and owner to a second home. My family moved to Austin this year to help keep things weird, and because Maryland kicked us out.

I thought it would be good to try to document the life of a family man in a strange city, including all of the mundane tasks that go along with scheduled date nights, dog owner mishaps and maintenance home by someone who is not exactly the most handy person in the world.

Feel free to come along for the journey. We've got a lot of weird stuff planned.