Lone Star Livin', 2011
Nov. 2, 2011
Turning off the tapUnfortunately, the drought in Texas continues and, according to most reports I read, it’s not likely to let up for another year. For me, that means it’s time to scale back on our lawn watering. Read more.
Oct. 26, 2011
Trick-or-treat … or not?In our first year as homeowners, I was excited about Halloween. Trick-or-treaters don’t frequent many second-floor apartments, so for the first time, I would get to open my own door to a front porch full of giggling witches, ghosts, and princesses. I had costumes, spooky music, and boatloads of candy for the torrent of trick-or-treaters I was sure would flood my door. Sadly, I was in for a lesson. Read more.
Oct. 19, 2011
What would you do if you had five minutes to evacuate?The Texas wildfires have really been on my mind lately. For some living in neighborhoods at risk, residents had as few as five minutes to evacuate their homes. That got me thinking … am I prepared to evacuate my home in five minutes? Read more.
Oct. 11, 2011
Our first jack-o-lanternOur family has big plans this weekend: we’re carving our first jack-o-lantern together. Though this isn’t our son’s first Halloween, it is the first one in which he’ll do more than coo, cry, and fill diapers … and it all begins with carving the perfect jack-o-lantern for our doorstep. Read more.
Sep. 28, 2011
Wildfire reliefIf you live anywhere near Texas, you already know that devastating wildfires have been ravaging our state. In fact, an official of the American Red Cross recently told me that we’ve had a wildfire burning every day somewhere in Texas since December 2010. Ouch. Read more.
Jun. 17, 2011
Tips for toddler-proofingAny day now, something very exciting is going to happen in our house: our 13-month-old son will take his first steps. My husband and I have been eagerly anticipating the event, holding our breath each time we set him on his wobbly feet. Though we’ve yet to see him do more than plop down on his Huggie-padded behind, we’re ready for the big moment and know we need to get our house ready, too. Read more.
Jun. 2, 2011
Protecting your home when Mother Nature does not – Part 2Last week, a visit with my insurance agent prompted me to write a post on having the right insurance policy for your home. While I was updating my family’s current policy, another question occurred to me – what about what’s in my home? Am I certain I would receive proper compensation for my valuables if they were destroyed or stolen? Read more.
May 23, 2011
Protecting your home when Mother Nature does notLike most Americans, my husband and I have been following the string of natural disasters that have affected the U.S. in the last several months … wildfires in the West, tornadoes in the Mideast and, most recently, massive flooding throughout the South. In each case, thousands of families have lost their homes and our hearts go out to them. Read more.
May 16, 2011
Making little things the simple thingsFor a household with two working parents, a one-year-old, and three pets, “busy” is hardly an adequate description of our lifestyle. While it has been a work in progress, I am proud that most days things don’t completely fall apart, and every now and then I’m even able to do things like organize closets or do a little yard work. Read more.
Apr. 27, 2011
Let’s party!Yep, we’re those parents. The ones who jump up and down like fools when our son learns how to clap and who throw big parties for his first birthday. On our journey to becoming those parents, we discovered something handy: our neighborhood has a clubhouse. Read more.
Mar. 30, 2011
Before we set sailI’m so excited, I can hardly stand it: my husband and I are going on vacation!!! A real vacation! No sleeping on family members’ fold-outs and no work. Just beaches, water views and food enough for an army for seven glorious days. I can smell the sea water already… Read more.
Mar. 23, 2011
Living in … and loving … the chaosMy husband and I are fortunate to have a large, tight-knit family. Between us, we have 19 wonderful nieces and nephews who live just three hours away and this weekend, six of them came to visit. Read more.
Mar. 16, 2011
Building community, one wave at a timeRecently, my family has been focused on healthy eating and exercise. We’re motivated by a vacation soon that involves bathing suits, but our true goal is a long-term improvement of our habits. Read more.
Feb. 28, 2011
Is my dream the same as anyone else’s?I’m a huge fan of cooking shows. Ina Garten, Rachael Ray, Giada de Laurentiis … you’d think they were all long-lost friends based on the space they command on my DVR. That being the case, a reasonable person would assume I’m also a fan of cooking … not exactly. Read more.
Feb. 16, 2011
My weekend with the REALTORS®If you've read my biography, you know that part of my day job is serving as Public Relations Counsel for the Texas Association of REALTORS®. Normally, you won't find this blog crossing over with that role … except when it does. Read more.
Feb. 9, 2011
Bracing for the blast“Winter” and “Texas” usually only go together when you’re talking about Winter Texans – those smart folks who escape to our state to avoid frigid temperatures in hometowns of Chicago or Fargo. Last weekend, however, “winter” and “Texas” collided in a big way. Was your house ready? Read more.
Feb. 2, 2011
And baby makes…a messMy husband and I are the very proud parents of a bouncing baby boy. Nine months old and a bundle of fun, we’re head over heels in love…and stuff. I thought my husband was a pack rat, but he’s nothing compared to all the stuff we have for the baby. Read more.
Jan. 26, 2011
I Heart CraigslistAs a homeowner, I’m constantly discovering new things I “need” and my first stop for most of those is Craigslist. Like a garage sale that’s always open, I’ve found tons of great things on Craigslist, including my living room couches, a great wine rack and lots of baby stuff. I don’t buy everything secondhand, but for many things (baby stuff my son will use for a whole two months, for example), it works well. Read more.
Jan. 25, 2011
Livin’ with LibbyMy husband came home with this adorable puppy. A mix of Labrador and hound, she was about five pounds with floppy ears and a sweet little face. Despite all that cuteness, I still had hesitations. Read more.
Jan. 18, 2011
Declaring war on clutterIt's a new year and in the Armijo house, that means cleaning those closets, organizing that garage and getting rid of all that stuff we acquired throughout the year. So, between Christmas and New Year's, we waged war on the clutter in our house and we won! Here's what we learned along the way. Read more.
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