So cruel! Get the other prank wallpapers for Mac, Windows, and more here.
Wordless Wednesday: Connected
Wordless Wednesday: Dreams And Inventions
Wordless Wednesday: Browsers As Modes Of Transportation
Via Neatorama.
Wordless Wednesday: NASA Mission Posters
More posters, via Neatorama.
Mortgage Rates Drop
Loan rates had been creeping up these last few months, but for the second consecutive week they again remained under 5 percent. The average interest on a 30-year fixed loan according to Freddie Mac came in at 4.95 percent (a .02 drop from the previous week). On a 15-year fixed-rate loan, the interest rate averaged 4.32 percent.
Along with interest rates remaining low, there is optimism that the housing market is in a slow and steady recovery. According to Kiplinger’s writer Richard DeKaser, a springtime thaw in the housing market is coming,
A springtime rebound ought to be just around the corner, if I’m right about the winter housing downturn being due to special factors. It’s too soon to say for sure, but tentative signs of an uptick are already emerging. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, for example, home purchase applications increased in late February and early March, pushing them above the pre-blizzard levels of early February.
Good news all around! On a personal level, the phone has started ringing again and one of my favorite lenders agrees that business seems to be on the upswing.
Moving Can be Fun for Kids!
Well, the move is taking place as I speak! We’ll pick up keys this afternoon, and start moving the boxes in this evening. My children are elated! Many people are concerned about how their children will respond to a move, as were we. But there are a few things parents can do that will minimize the stress on the children, and perhaps even build excitement about their new place!
- Allow the children to be involved in choosing the new home. You can only do this to an extent, but being involved gives children a sense of control,which is something they can feel a loss of when a move is taking place.
- Give the children choices…of rooms, paint color, room decor, etc.
- Ask the kids to “help” pack…and remain patient as they do this! I am very structured when it comes to packing, so I was a little nervous when my daughter offered to pack for my two-year-old. But she has packed over three times what I have, and the important thing is that we get it there, right???
- As tempted as you are to send the kids away while you’re moving in, let them be a part of it…even if it’s just for a few hours. My son is DYING to play with his “cars and trucks and trains in his new house”. So the plan is to get some of his toys there, unpack them in his space, and let him play while we unpack elsewhere.
Remember to remain as calm as possible during your move, and speak positively of the experience. We’ve been referring to ours as our latest adventure. Your children will follow your lead. And with your positive guidance, the move will be a positive experience for everyone.
Friday Fun Video: Angelo the Little Lamb
This is so cute I could just SQUEEEEE!
H/T Vegansaurus! And special thanks to the Farm Sanctuary.
Buying Frugally – Laser Pointer!
My husband is impossible to buy for, so at Christmas I was my usual stumped self. But as I wandered the aisles at our local Super Target store, I spotted a special display of weird stuff to give as Christmas gifts. The kind of items that no one would really buy for themselves, yet they were kind of cool.
I found a laser pointer. Yes, I hate when I go to the movies and someone has one pointed at the screen. But my cat ADORES chasing the light. She fell instantly in love with my husband’s gift and is always on the lookout for that little red light. In fact, I may be teaching her to be OCD about it, but she’s a cat so I’m not overly stressed.
We’ve also learned that the laser pointer is even better when it lands on a piece of tissue paper. She loves chasing it in circles while she’s on the tissue paper because of the crunchy noise. I pick up a 40-sheet package for a dollar at our local Dollar Tree.
But woe is Kitty … the batteries in the light have begun to give out. I went to the store to replace them and nearly choked when I saw that the package of three cost $9. I decided it was crazy to spend $9 on batteries when the light itself only cost $5 during the holiday season.
Always thinking frugally, I asked the clerk if they had laser pointers for pets. They said, “Sure!” and told me “Aisle 5”. I wandered down and found a brand new laser pointer that included three brand new batteries for $4.95.
Kitty has a new laser light.
Kitty pictured laying on tissue paper.
The Yard Down the Road
I have a friend who is somewhat unusual. She describes herself as a decorator, but her taste definitely runs to the eclectic so I’m not sure how well she does in the decor business.
Her yard is one to behold, though. She and her family have worked hard to build a 12 foot fountain in the front. In the remainder of the yard, we see her art work on display. She has a combination of the wood cut outs of old people bent over gardening, Christmas snowmen, penguins, presents, and nativity scenes. Wooden yard art can be very cute, but then again – everything in moderation is acceptable to me.
My only yard art is the American flag and a cross from Home Interior hanging on my porch. I was doing a friend a favor by buying it. I have some flowers and lots of trees. I’d like to find tree faces to put on my bigger trees someday, but overall unless it’s something grown by mother nature, less is best.