Shopping — Page 26 — You are in My World Now

How long do laptops last?

September 28, 2007 by Tricia

Last year, well last summer I should say, I treated myself to my first laptop computer.

Lately I’ve been hearing people say that their laptop only lasted for about a year. I don’t know what models they purchased or how they used their computer, but that seems like an awfully short time doesn’t it?

Now I’m wondering how long I might expect this laptop to last? I use it for at least 8 hours a day. Sometimes it’s on for 48 hours at a time! Often it’s on for 12 to 18 hours.

I’ve actually thought of getting another laptop. Perhaps something else to add to the ol Christmas list? Chris likes to use the laptop too so it might be nice for us to have two of them. We have a desktop computer too, but I find it so much more convenient to use the laptop most of the time, although I think I’m more productive when I sit at the desktop as I’m not watching TV at the same time. That’s probably the key reason why I do better at the desktop.

So what do you think? How long should a laptop last and should I get a second one?

Our basement is such a mess

September 28, 2007 by Tricia

I haven’t begun my Christmas shopping yet, but I am thinking about it.

Our basement is a mess! We have a lot of tools in the basement – among many other things. Our basement is a general storage area and isn’t used for anything but storage, washing and drying clothes, the toilet and showering.

My husband tries to keep the tools in order. There’s a work bench in the basement and he keeps the majority of our tools on or above it, but I think I might try to find a better form of tool storage if I can. Depending upon what I find and how pricey it is I could perhaps make a gift of a tool storage system one of Chris’ Christmas gifts.

It’s not like he needs a Christmas gift this year though … I mean we got him an HD video camera this summer. That should cover at least one birthday and Christmas I think! Me too. I don’t need anything. I got a really nice SLR camera this summer when we got Chris the video camera. I think we’re both good for a while.

But we could use something that would help us organize the basement. That would be practical, wouldn’t it?

Diamonds and Gemstone rings for your right hand too!

September 15, 2007 by Tricia

Engaged? Married? I bet you have a beautiful ring, don’t you? What about your other hand? Do you wear rings on both hands or do you mostly only wear your friendship, engagement or wedding rings on your left and leave the right unadorned?

As a former jeweller I’d run across people that didn’t believe that they could wear diamonds or fancy gemstones on their right hand. Especially if they weren’t engaged or married. It was as if they feared that if they bought a diamond ring they’d have to wear it on their left ring finger and they couldn’t do that as men would think they were engaged and they’d lose their chance of meeting Mr. Right. I’d explain to them that there were no rules against wearing a ring on their right hand.

Abazias Diamonds has a beautiful assortment of right-hand rings. Their selection includes delicate diamond rings, such as the one to the right, and rings with sapphires, emeralds, amethyst, garnet, rubies or a mix of diamond and gemstone in styles from delicate to bold.

For most designs you can choose between yellow or white gold. You can also choose from pave diamond settings, bezel set stones and more depending upon the style of ring that catches your eye.

I’ve always been partial to sapphire rings myself, probably because the sapphire is my birthstone. I’d be happy to wear a sapphire ring such as the one I’ve included to the left on my right hand. It’s beautiful isn’t it?

Isn’t it time you dressed up your bare right ring finger?

It’s cold tonight! Brrrrr

September 12, 2007 by Tricia

This is the coldest night in months! Last week we had a heat wave and temperatures were getting into the 40 Celsius (104 F) range with the humidity and now it’s gotten very cool outside.

Actually the last couple of days have been pleasant with temperatures in the low 20’s (68 F to 75 F), but yesterday evening exactly at the same time my husband got home from work a huge storm came up and it cooled everything off dramatically. I mean trees blown over and all!

During and after the storm the temperature dropped. By 11 pm it was only 12 Celsius (53 F) and now, at 3:30 am it’s 11 Celsius (52 F). That’s cold! It’s making me think of winter and it’s far too early to think of winter! It has reminded me that I need a new winter coat though. Perhaps I’ll get a nice warm North Face jacket? One that can stand up to our cold Canadian winters and strong icy cold winds.

It looks like it will be cool most nights over the next week. I think I might have to think about bringing some of the tropical plants that I’ve placed in my garden into the enclosed back porch at night too.

Ahhh I hate the thought of cool weather coming. I haven’t had enough summer yet. It can’t be almost over … can it?

I need kitchen reno ideas – please

September 12, 2007 by Tricia

I can’t wait until we get a chance to redo our kitchen. I have no idea what the former home owners were thinking when they renovated. They had only renovated a year or so before we bought the house, but they went the cheap route – new floor and really cheap cabinets.

The fridge between the back door and the basement door all by itself so it basically looks strange where it is and makes it hard to use either door. The fridge is going to move to the other side of the room when we renovate. The stove is an old gas stove and it’s beside the kitchen door so there’s only a little bit of counter space to one side of the stove. I’ve got our big microwave beside the stove so if I’m carrying something hot I have to be sure that I can hold it for a few steps as there’s no place to put anything down quickly!

I won’t even begin to get started on the melamine cupboards and the cabinet hardware! Or the very small double sinks!

Kitchen renos are really expensive though … I’m trying to think if there’s a way I can renovate better than the former home owners, but without spending $30,000 doing it! The best way to do that is of course for us to do the majority of the work ourselves.

We’ve also thought of going to the local Habitat For Humanity Store, there’s one just about five miles from here, to look for used kitchen cabinets. We’ve looked before and you can get some nice wooden ones for great prices. Even if they’re a bit outdated they’re better than the melamine cabinets we’ve got now.

Got any ideas for me as to how else we can do an inexpensive kitchen reno?