February | 2014 | BulgingButtons

February 18, 2014
by BulgingButtons 2 Comments

Please Pass the Wine

tonight’s selection

I’ve heard several times today from a few different sources that today is officially Drink Wine Day. I didn’t know that there was an official day for that. I was under the impression that one could enjoy a glass of wine on any particular day. Still, I think I would be remiss if I didn’t mark the occasion with a glass.

It’s time to take a break from all the rushing around cleaning and puttering and straightening and fixing. It’s time to take a deep breath, put aside the work for the evening, and relax with my sweetheart and a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. I’m completely uneducated about wine. I know I’m supposed to enjoy red with meat and white with seafood. I know that I’m supposed to chill my Pinot Grigio but leave my reds at room temperature. Maybe I even have that wrong. The fact is, I don’t know much about wine, aside from the fact that I enjoy drinking it from time to time. Tonight is one of those times.

In the spirit of Drink Wine Day, salut.

February 18, 2014
by BulgingButtons 8 Comments

Simple Pleasures – Open House Style

As I prepare to sell my house, these are some of the things that give me satisfaction:

1. A decluttered closet. Nothing extra is hanging about. The surplus has been donated, and out of season items stored away. Ahhh.

2. Smudgeless appliances. This is the ideal. It rarely is the reality. Stainless steel is harder to keep clean than the old fashioned type of appliances.

3. A poop free yard. My silly dog won’t go anywhere but in the side yard at home. She never leaves behind anything on a walk, not even a drop of pee. Too much information, I know. At least she only uses a small, out of the way area.

4. Cleared off kitchen counters. This is how I like them. I have a toaster, a fruit bowl, and a small container of utensils. That’s all.

5. The fresh smell of an “Ocean Breeze” candle. It makes the whole house smell clean and puts me in a good mood.

February 17, 2014
by BulgingButtons 4 Comments

Too Many Choices

Close to work and in a pretty neighborhood, but it needs updating. Still, the price is right.

The day after tomorrow my listing goes live. The listing for my house, that is. It will officially be “for sale” and the search for a new home will continue as we cross our fingers that this one goes quickly and for a fair price.

Now I have to decide where I want to live. Of course I don’t want to put the cart before the horse, but I really need to give it some thought in order to narrow down my search. Everyone knows that the first rule of real estate is, “location, location, location,” but the question is, which location?

I’m at a point where I can automatically rule out any homes that back to busy streets or have horrible views. I can cross off the list any neighborhoods that seem run down or unsafe. I also want to limit my commute to a particular distance. All that being said, I still have some decisions to make.

A longer drive but about the same square footage. Of course it’s all up to date and doesn’t need a thing. But the price… ouch.

Do I go for the homes in the neighborhood near me now which is a little higher priced, but all the homes are new and the neighborhood is pristine, or do I go for the lower priced homes closer to work that will need some cosmetic fixes that can be done over time? The savings in cost and time commuting are important to me, but so is the comfort of a home that doesn’t need any work. Of course the homes in great condition require a higher mortgage payment each month, so I would be home more.

Either way, I’m looking for a spacious home in a safe, pretty neighborhood, that won’t break the bank. Is that too much to ask? I didn’t think so.