Well, we did it!! Steve and I have just completed our first home improvement book together!!  It’s called FIX IT IN A FLASH!

This has been such an amazing experience for the both of us. Asked to write it back in July of 2006 by my would-be editor, David Thiel from F & W Publications, I was a bit hesitant to commit to writing a book…I’d never done it and I was a bit nervous, to say the least! After many discussions, David and I agreed that having a home improvement how-to book with my real-life partner, Steve, would be a great approach. Steve is just as handy around the house as I am, and he’s a writer…perfect fit! We also decided to shoot an accompanying DVD with ten of the twenty-five projects Steve and I tackled in the book. That’s where the fun began! I was so used to working in front of the camera. Steve, on the other hand, had always worked BEHIND the camera. We had a blast, despite Steve’s baptism by fire in being on camera. He was a trouper!

The release date is September 2009. I hope that you all will enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed writing it! :)

Las Vegas, NV January 20-23

Pat Simpson and I are gearing up to head to Vegas in a few weeks and we are so excited!  The International Builders’ Show is going to be underway and we are going to soak it all up.  Open to the public, this show is chock full of exhibitors, guest speakers, and events all focused around products and materials for making your home and garden grand. If you get a chance to go, stop by the Shirestone booth to say hello to Pat. I am going to kidnap him, too, so we can walk the floor to check out all the latest and greatest for your home improvement projects. I’ll be posting pictures of what we find…so tune back in soon!

It’s hard for me to believe that the holidays are here once again.  I mean, doesn’t it seem like yesterday that we were shopping for the turkey, checking the sports schedule to see who would be playing ball that day, and well, counting heads to see who was coming for dinner and who might make it time for dessert? 

With all the hustle and bustle of making Turkey Day just right, I have to remind myself to stop, catch my breath, and really think about what Thanksgiving means. What does it mean? I know that I am thankful for my family and my friends;  I say that with the sincerest of hearts.  I am thankful for the opportunities that have blessed me this year in my work.  I am thankful for my health and that of my daughter.  I am thankful that my parents are still healthy and sharp of mind.  These blessings, these gifts, I am most thankful for. 

Still I ponder, what does it mean to be truly Thankful. And in the quiet of this evening I realized that thankfulness is the perfect prayer.  Admittedly, I have found myself praying for this or that to happen in my life.  Praying for one thing or another.  But tonight, my prayer is Thankfulness.  I am grateful. Grateful for the good, the bad, the joy, the stress, the love, the fear, the known and the unknown.  It’s all a blessing, it’s all a gift.

Happy Thanksgiving…there really is so much to be thankful for…

Now the weather has turned cool and well, down right cold at night, it’s time to assess your home and see just how energy effecient it really is.  The best and more reliable way to do this is by doing an energy audit.  Now I know the word “audit” can send chills down anyones spine, but an ENERGY audit is a GOOD audit and one that you can do in less than an hour.

So, how much of that warm air (or cold air in the summer) is escaping from your doors, windows, appliance vents, and duct work? Just by sealing around exterior doors and windows can reduce your monthly bill by as much as 20%! Now that’s a lot of dough! While you’re at it, check to make sure there aren’t any drafts coming from the gaps in your interior trim around your doors and windows. If you can feel the cold, then chances are it’s not properly insulated.  My best advice is to score the caulking with a utility knife and gently pry away the trim to expose the rough opening.  Then you can really see how the cold air is coming in and your warm air is going out! Using the correct insulation for windows, like an easy to use spray foam, will do just the trick. Just make you don’t use more than recommended by the manufacturer or you could bow the sides of your windows and thus, rendering your windows inoperable.

Another place to check for air escaping your house is in the attic.  Check around the duct work and vents that are either on your roof or on the upper side of your house…insulating them and sealing the vent joints with duct tape is just as important as insulating your ceilings and floors! And inspect your existing insulation while you’re up there…has it become compacted from holiday decorations sitting on it all year? Insulation that is flattened or crushed is as bad as no insulation at all. 

How about under your kitchen or bathroom sinks?  Do you have a big, gaping hole in the cabinet underneath where the drain passes through the floor? Well, plug it up! Just make sure if you use a foam insulation that is designed for minimal expansion so you won’t crack your pipe.

Here are some good tips to ensure that your house is energy efficient this winter:

1:  Try using compact flourescent light bulbs instead of incandescent ones. I know you are probably tired of hearing about how great they are…but they really are! They use 75%, that’s 75% less energy and they last 10X longer…need I say more?

2:  Think about installing a ceiling fan in rooms that you and your family hang out in the most.  By moving the warm air in the room around, ( make sure it is going in the “winter” direction which is clockwise on lower speeds this winter and “summer” direction next spring which is counter clockwise on higher speeds) you can better control the temperature in the room which leads to the less likelihood of have to adjust your thermostat, which can save you more energy.

3:  Change out that old, dusty air filter in your heating and cooling unit or units.  I like to use the big, thick ones which will also catch more allergens in the air as it recycles through your house…having two huge Labrador dogs kinda makes that a no-brain-er for our house!

4:  If it’s time for an appliance update, make sure it has the ENERGY STAR sticker on it.  Nowdays, you’d be hardpressed to find an appliance that doesn’t have one…but if they are out there, consider paying a bit more to get that savings in the long run because appliances to account for up to 25% of your household energy consumption.

5:  And last, but not least, if you are at that place where you are ready to really make that switch and save some money…then a tankless water heater is the best bet.  I installed two in my house and having hot water on demand without demanding the energy to keep it hot, It is well worth the investment. Plus, I get a tax break on it one every year I do my taxes! *Be sure to check with your accountant for the tax codes in your state*

I am thrilled to announce that I have been asked to join the cast of Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford as the segment host of BEST NEW PRODUCTS! Danny is one of the most well known home improvement experts with his nationally syndicated show, which airs every Saturday morning (check your local listing). He is also the DIY expert for the Weather Channel and for CBS’s The Early Show. Shooting down in Mobile for the first time last month was an absolute blast!  Danny, Allen-the producer, Scott-the director, and Jason-the cameraman all made the long shoot days fly by with their laughter, light-heartedness, but also their amazing committment to bringing the viewers the best and latest in home improvement trends and advice. I’m excited to get back to Alabama for another round of production days in October. This season is already off to a great start!