Seven Reasons I Love Home Depot

I bought my house.

I love to do the maintenance around said house.

I love tools and fixing things.  I have contemplated breaking things just to have to fix them.

There are three places to shop for the supplies I need in my book.  Big blue, Home Depot or the little red. 

I like the little red, its convenient and specialized.  I prefer the big box feel.  Better prices and selection I think.  Or maybe I'm just one of the masses who supports American consumerism.

There are two options in the big box department.  Big blue and Home Depot.  I have several personal experiences that justify why I favor Home Depot over its blue rival.  But I also have these reasons:

image from here

Seven Reasons I Love Home Depot

• The Floor.  Its cement.  Polished and buffed cement.  Nothing special.  BUT its always clean.  Cleaner than the grocery store most of the time.  You can totally slide along it.  That is quite a leg workout too.  Yep, I love the floor at home depot.  I'm a nerd and also really weird sometimes.
• Orange.  Orange is so much better than Blue.  Cross my heart and hope to die.  I also just prefer orange as a color.  I really like comparing stores by using their colors rather than their names.  Incognito.  Cool.  Top Secret.
• The Aprons.  Aprons are so much better than vests.  And why are their vests red and not blue?  The aprons are orange and match.  I appreciate that.  Now let's get real.
• The People.  People at Home Depot are approximately 96.7% nicer that those employed by Lowe's.  I have conducted the research myself.  I have never once been taken seriously at L, have actually been laughed at by L employees.  I am familiar with more than a couple of the employees at Home Depot. 
• The Services.  Home Depot offers incredible services.  They have pull in the market since they are so large, and just know how to rock a good deal.  Installations, kitchen designs and everything else they offer.  They really do offer it all too, can't wait to experience more of them. 
• The Advice.  I can go to HD and ask the dude in the plumbing department why water is spewing out of my toilet's hook up.  He will laugh, ask if I have some photos, and then show me what I need to buy and how I need to hook it up.  They actually have a toilet set up that they can show how to work on its plumbing.  He shows me and makes sure I have all the tools I need so I don't need to come back.  He's awesome.  His name is Ed.  At L once, I asked the man in lumber if they had a redwood gate that was 30-36 inches wide.  He said "Honey, you don't need a gate, you need a clue".  I went to the back of his department, got my gate, paid for it and left.
• Its the place where everybody know's my name. I can walk into my Home Depot and be recognized and called by name.  At least two but up to five people know me and I recognize almost all of them.  This has made me a lifelong customer.  Customer service goes a very long way in Devyn's book.  Sold.

You like Lowe's more than Home Depot?  Go away.  Or just don't tell me.  

Seven Shopping Havens

Who doesn't enjoy shopping? 

I do.  I probably enjoy it more than most and I surely enjoy more than my wallet does. 

Oh well, life is short, cliche cliche cliche.

I don't do the 5th Avenue luxury shopping thing though.  I don't like designer things, I don't care to dress any nicer than my uniform of t-shirts and jeans.  I don't carry nice purses.  I can't wear jewelery at work and don't much care for it.  I'm low maintenance. 

I do like sales.  I actually love a bargain.  I love when that box on my reciept says:

Total Spent:  $50.00

Total Saved: $150.00

...or something amazing like that.  My dad always tells my mom not to even bother coming home unless she saves more than she spends.  She takes it very seriously and its awesome. 

I love the rush.  Who doesn't like a bit of adrenaline? 

Here are some of my favorite places to shop.

Seven Shopping Havens

• 99¢ Only Stores - I fell in love with this store when I lived in Las Vegas.  I was making lucrative amounts of money, but I loved to spend it at the dollar store.  I have never enjoyed ANY dollar store as much as this one.  Everything is only 99¢ or like 2/99¢ or 3/99¢.  Its easy to know how much you're spending and is really fun to just see how far $10 will take ya.  (hint: ITS REALLY FAR)
• Home Depot - Do I really need to explain this orange heaven?  Have I not explained my massive love enough to you?  Guess not.  Look forward to that post tomorrow then, I guess. 
• Target - My first love.  My first job.  A dream come true, really.  Allow me to explain the ways I used to and still love this place:
  
  • I look amazing in red.  That said, I hate khaki.  
  • I am an excellent ambassador for Target.  Both when they employed me and since then.
  • I still shop there, years after employment.  I know a lot of people who avoid places they used to work as something was ruined for them
  • Normal folks(non target employees) don't know how to read the clearance tags and tell if they are really getting a deal.  Most have caught on as to where to find the clearance shelves though, which is awesome. 
  • Smells the same no matter where you are.  I've been to a target almost everywhere I've traveled and its always a great way to feel like I was back home.  Is that weird?
  • They have the best Black Friday sales, I have been every year for 4 or more.  It is always my first stop and the one I look forward to the most.  
  • You can get everything you need there.  EVERYTHING.  Food, rugs, clothes, drugs, furniture, candy, cat litter, paint rollers, lightbulbs, alcohol, toothbrushes and so on.
• Home Goods - A cousin store to Marshall's.  I've never been to a stand alone Marshall's...I don't think.  I don't even know how I met this store.  I do know that I love it.  I go sporadically to catch the new waves of their stock.  I have so many incredible finds from there.  Stuff I never knew I was looking for but totally needed!  I don't know how to explain my love of this store with mere words.
• Goodwill/Thrift Stores - I like Goodwill.  It has always been my favorite.  I venture into the others but the snob in me really appreciates a certain level of cleanliness and standards.  I find incredible things here and enjoy looking for them even more. 
• IKEA - Haven't I explained this before?  I love this Swedish Yellow & Blue Kingdom.  I think their furniture is great and affordable and allows you to change your style with your lifestyle.  They have bomb-a$$ cinnamon rolls that are ¢heap!!!  Hot dogs too, and mac and cheese and of course those Swedish meatballs.  I'd guess that 80# of my furniture hails from this Mecca.
• Bookmans - A Tucson original with outposts here in Phoenix, this is the best place to go book hunting.  You will never pay full price, mostly about 50% and books are in good condition and there is absolutely something for EVERYONE there.  They have expanded past books into media and other vintage and antique items.  Please, refrain from telling me if you have never been.  I don't even want to know.  You may find more, here.  They also support a lot of great causes and are anti-censorship.  I'm down.

I gotta know where you love to shop!  Tell me all of your secrets!!!  Hit the comments right away!

Seven Household To-Dos

Hey!

Welcome back and thank you for reading! 

I've owned my house for almost 16 months now, it feels like forever and nothing all at the same time.  When I think back on all of the projects and renovations I get overwhelmed.  I have no idea what possessed me to be so crazy and do all of these things with no experience.

Then I had to sit back and let the pros come in and do a few things.  Now I am saving money to enable my current list of projects.

I am putting it out here for the world to see for one reason, if I put it out there, I'm accountable.  Take a look!

Seven Things On My Household To-Do List

• Hot Water Heater - Sounds like a silly thing to be at the top of my list huh?  Well mine is living on borrowed time currently and is probably very inefficient.  Also, the water shut off valves here are so corroded and rusted out that if I ever did have a problem, I wouldn't be able to shut the water off.  They came like that and I've been putting off getting them fixed.  My ETA for this project is Dec 2011 or Jan 2012. 
• Water Softener - This is a necessity in the Southwest.  If you have ever lived in or stayed in a house that has one, you can tell the difference.  You laundry is softer, your hair is softer, your dishes are cleaner and have less spots, your shower is much easier to clean and maintain and so on.  I can't wait to have mine installed.  Too bad it costs double what it should since I have mystery pipes in my front yard that have to be cut down and routed to my garage to allow for the soft water loop at all.  This has been coupled with the heater project and I'm saving for them jointly.  Same ETA.
• Dishwasher - The one I have is the cheapest builder grade and I'm not sure it even works sometimes.  It sounds like a freight train when it tries to clean my dishes too, and I'm not crazy about that.  This will be my next fun purchase after I do the mundane water heater/softener because without these two appliances, my new dishwasher won't be operating at its finest!  My ETA on a new dishwasher is before next summer, so May 2012.
• Irrigation - I am lucky to have a high quality irrigation system through my entire landscaping.  front and back yard, grass, bushes and trees all have water coming to them.  Over the year I've noticed it acts up and needs a tune up.  I am no irrigation pro, so I hope I could learn a little more about it when I find someone to come check it out.  This is something I have been delaying for a while and I'm sure my yellow grass is due to my laziness and I'm sure I could avoid using so much water if I just got it fixed and running right.  My ETA is soon.  Very soon.  If not, then by May 2012. 
• Carpet - This is something that has been on my list for several months now.  My house has a good amount of carpet and I want it ALL GONE.  There used to be a cat in residence before I bought this house and I believe the carpet pads are destroyed because of it.  I ripped up all the carpet in my big closet and laid down laminate wood floor and I love it.  I have sudden urges to do that to the rest of the carpet too, but then I would be stuck with bare concrete in the upcoming winter because I can't afford laminate for all the other areas just yet.  What a vicious cycle.  ETA: This is on my five year plan.
• Bathroom - I did a major update on the guest bathroom in my house not too long after I bought it.  Tiled the shower, refinished the vanity and new hardware all around.  My poor master bath is feeling neglected.  It is huge and an awkward layout.  I hope to make use of all the angles and height someday as well as add a skylight of some sort since no natural light gets into that space at all.  I want to turn the tub/shower into a shower with glass doors and nice tile.  My first bathroom renovation taught me how much time and money this takes, so this is another five year plan item.  Sad Face.
• Kitchen - Everyone I know wants something done to their kitchen.  Mine is no exception.  I am a culinary professional by trade, so I want the best of course which catapults this into the ten year plan, realistically.  Unless I win the lottery. 

That's my list guys.  It screams $$$$$$$ to me.  So I'm off to work to go fund my addiction projects! Do you have any projects you want to tackle?  Do you have any projects you want to pay me to tackle for you?!  Comment away!

Seven Life Goals

'Ello!

Do you have goals in life?  I think everyone does, right?

Some people aim to pay the bills.  Some want to get to the next level  in that video game.  Some want to have x amount of kids by x age. Some wanna climb that corporate ladder! 

I have a lot of goals, way more than 7.  I have a revolving list that is completely intertwined with my own personal bucket list.  Its complicated.

Every year right about this time near my birthday I evaluate some goals.  I have taken some of my goals and narrowed them down to 7 that I'd like to accomplish in the next year(or so).  Crazy things to do before I get to that strange age I'm headed to!

Ready?

Seven Goals For The Next 365 Days:

• Canning.  I gotta try this.  I cook food for a living and this is right up my alley.  I have never canned anything.  I've made jams and spreads and jellies but never for long term preservation.  I read several blogs about this and I feel like I need to make my own pickles this year sometime.  Its also aligns well with another goal...
• Live A More Sustainable Life.  This is for the betterment of myself and the world I hope to one day bring kids into.  I have cut back my plastic bag usage by 80% and that's a big goal.  Its a challenge to remember, its sorta annoying to the employees, but I am saving thousands of bags from hitting the landfill.  I am trying to eat healthier and buy organic and or local as I can afford or where its available.  I want to cut back my hygiene products this year(baking soda and vinegar shampoo anyone?).  Every renovation I do to my house is eco-minded too.  Basically when I have the option of living more "green" I am going to take it.  It just feels better.
• Ride A Motorcycle.  Yes, I have never ridden a true motorcycle.  A mini bike once.  But never a scooter or a motorcycle.  This year, I'm gonna.  I'm gonna ride one.  Maybe it'll scare me away from them or maybe I will have a new goal next year of driving one.  We shall see. 
• Gardening.  I am going to get rid of some of the lush landscaping on my property this year and move or re-purpose some irrigation and build a raised bed garden.  I'm gonna use cedar wood, its gonna be about 6" above ground level, and I'm gonna grow some veggies.  This goes with sustainability too, but mostly because I want that pride.  I kept the roses alive this year, good job Dev, now grow a garden!
• Soda Maker.  I want to make my own carbonated beverages.  I don't think I want that silly soda stream machine, just a co2 charger and limitless flavors!  I love soda, I love carbonation and I want to make my own.  I am actively drinking much less soda because of the HFCS and sugar contents.  I see a Devyn named soda coming up folks.
• Skydiving.  This has been a goal of mine for years.  Since I was about 17 I think.  It might just kill my parents.  I wouldn't tell them until after...but I'd totally do it.  I think one of my brothers is down too, so maybe a partner in crime will inspire this dream to become a reality.  
• Spanish.  More than ever I feel compelled to take advantage of my heritage as a part Mexican and learn the damn language!  Its a beautiful language, a valuable skill and just something I NEED to do.  It would make my grandma very proud, I know and would make me very happy.  Daily I use words here and there but I need to make those sentences happen!  I need to learn Spanish.  

Know what I just realized?  By putting this out here I have just built myself some accountability.  I feel accountable to all of you invisible millions of readers.  Make me achieve these goals, ya'll!

Do you have any goals I should help you with?  Tell me in the comments!

Seven Things I Do Not Miss About Apartment Life

Its the first weekend of the month.  Wanna know how I can tell?  Moving trucks.  Everywhere.  Lots of neighbors leaving my 'hood.  Today is extra special too! 

Not one, but both of my brothers are moving out of my parents house.  One for the first time and one has just been an extended summer stay.  That will leave 0 children in my parents house.  I am very curious to see what that is going to be like.  Anyways I am in Tucson to help them move and offer my services as a general expert on moving.  I have moved more times than I want to mention and once it was twice in the period of 5 days.  I am very glad to not be moving this time, and happy to help my baby brothers! 

I own my house now, but lived in apartments for many years.  My brothers aren't renting an apartment but they are renting a house.  For two college aged boys, this is pretty awesome.  I mean, obviously my brothers are going to be awesome, duh.  In honor of this monumental occasion, I have put together today's post!

Seven Things I Do Not Miss About Apartment Life:

• Stairs.  Upstairs apartments were always cheaper so I lived on the second floor all but one time.  I do not miss stairs one bit.  Shared staircases that you can hear your neighbors clunking up and down on.  Moving your furniture up and down staircases with corners.  I almost bought a three story condo.  So glad that didn't actually happen!  
• The Trash Parade.  I hated hauling my garbage around.  Out of your apartment, lock you door, traipse out to the dumpster, toss your bag in.  Hopefully you didn't accidentally fling your keys in  like I did once.  Its not fun to try and get them back...  Also I didn't like seeing other people's trash.  Yes we all create waste but no I do not want to see yours.  I was unlucky in my apartments too that none of them recycled, which reduces my trash by 75% at my house.  Recycling Rules!
• Neighbor Proximity.  I was always the over cautious neighbor who was afraid that my neighbors could hear any and everything I was doing.  I walked softly, I always checked the time before doing anything noisy and even closed my doors super quietly.  Unfortunately I am one in a million.  I lived above a fussy baby, several smokers, party animals, cat people, loud Farsi speaking folks, drummers and even snoring people.  Yep. Thin walls I do not miss you.
• Paying the MAN.  I hated rent because it was always just paid to "them"  It did me nothing.  Also it constantly grew at the end of each lease.  Now I pay my mortgage which is basically an investment in my future( and cheaper than our rent was in a smaller apartment).  Damn the man!
• Grocery Shopping.  Groceries are a part of life.  Hauling them across the complex, up your stairs and into your apartment shouldn't have to be.  Forget it when you buy more than a couple bags worth, multiple trips back and forth used to suck the life out of me.  
• No customization.  In most apartments you are not allowed any freedom to customize.  No paint, no holes in the walls, no changing knobs on cabinets, no FUN! You can probably guess that I have painted every wall, surface, trim, and door in my place.
• Maintenance.  This may not make sense to most people but I hated having an issue and waiting for the MAN's minions to come fix it.  I much prefer handling my own issues.  Yes I have to pay for the broken things and whatnot, but I also get the satisfaction of fixing a lot of things myself! I also take better care of everything because it is MINE.

I hope all of you have the chance to buy a home and ditch the MAN!  It was the greatest thing I have ever done(most days).  In the meantime, do you have any fun apartment/dorm stories? I wanna hear them!