WTF (almost) Wednesday...

OMG, the saga of our front/backyard clean up & landscaping. I didn't elude to this much in my previous post about our outdoor spring cleaning, but have had a MAJOR problem with the landscaper we hired to do some of the heavy lifting-type work. They were supposed to be trimming the branches on the tree away from the house, trimming the branches on the evergreen tree that was ruined during the three snow storms we had in our area this past winter, clearing out the scary weedage (yes, just made that word up :oP) in our backyard, and lay sod in the back surrounding the patio. All of the work minus the sod-laying was done this past Friday & they were supposed to come back on Monday to finish up the job. Simple enough right? Wrong.

Problem #1: They were using a chainsaw to trim the branches on the large tree in front of our house & they used some sort of lubricant or oil for the chainsaw & well, look wtf was left on my sidewalk & stairs:

Yes, as you can see from picture #3 - one of the guy's workers even walked thru the huge spill at the bottom of our steps & tracked it across the sidewalk! Are you EFFING serious?! And they just left. No clean up, nothing. So, we called the "owner" (quotes b/c I'm not sure it is even a legit business at this point; unfortunately we got this referral from my mother & didn't really check it out b/c we trusted her word) on Saturday morning, he didn't calll back. But several hours later he did TEXT my husband saying something about he observes the Sabbath on Saturdays & doesn't talk business or return business calls on Saturdays or something. We respected that - it's his religion, so we didn't trip. He said he'd absolutely clean up any mess they left on Monday when they came to lay the sod. Great. Wonderful.

Problem #2: So yesterday, I get home from work...big oil/greasy spot still there. Little smaller spots, foot prints still there? YEP. So I calm down. ::deep breaths:: Walk into the house & go out on the deck to check the back yard to see if maybe they laid the sod? Nope, nada, nilch, nothing. No messages on my home phone, he didn't call my cell all day, called my husband - didn't call him either. So, I say to myself, "Jen - you got home early today, chill. He's probably coming by a bit later to finish up the job & clean up the mess they made." I waited until 4pm, then called him; no answer; left him a message to call me back ASAP so that we know what's going on. He still hadn't showed up by the time my hubby got home, so he called him. No answer again, so he left him a more firm message around 5pm'ish. Well the guy still doesn't call back. Then, my husband's phone rings at 9pm - it's the guy. He apologizes profusely, gives my hubby some BS excuse about his guys not showing up for work, PROMISES - I mean is completely adamant that the work will be done tomorrow (which is today now) & then when we get home, the mess will be cleaned up.

So I get home today - oil stain still on the sidewalk. My husband never called me & he got home first, so I figure maybe the guy called him & worked out other arrangements or tried to get the spill/mess up & couldn't so he was going to try something different maybe later on? I'm trying to give the guy the benefit of the doubt. I am literally praying when I get to the back of my house that at least he came by & laid the sod. Nope. My husband is pissed, like livid. And usually I'm the sorta crazy, aggressive one, so him being upset is not normal - at all. Once I saw him, he said that he had tried calling the guy & he didn't answer as usual, but that he didn't leave a message because he was scared of what he'd say to him. So I called him & basically threatened him with contacting the Better Business Bureau & told him that our HOA (who technically owns the sidewalk) will be pursuing charges against him for destruction of property. I told him that we didn't want him to do the work on our property, but that if he wanted to avoid future legal problems, that he'd need to contact us immediately to make arrangements to come by & clean up this mess. That was hours ago. He still hasn't called me back.

So, just an angry, b!tchy little, friendly Public Service Announcement (PSA) to anyone in the Northern Virgina area that is getting any landscaping or yard work done - DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT use Daniel Saavedra of Freedom Services (not sure this is an actual business name). He does not follow thru on his word, does not complete the work he promises in the time frame he promises, ruins your property and makes no attempt to remedy the situation, does not return phone calls & all around is a horrible business man.

At this point, I have no clue what else to do. I Googled his so called "business name" & I can't find it. I'm so annoyed I can hardly contain myself. I feel like calling him every hour until he answers the phone. I may try calling him from another phone number tomorrow. This is freaking ridiculous. What would you do? We just want the oil spill cleaned up at this point - nothing more, nothing less. Any suggestions/advice are VERY welcome. Le sigh.

Spring Cleaning - Part I

The spring has sprung in the NOVA/DC Metro Area & in the World of Dennifer that means time to actually do some spring cleaning! I have decided to break up our spring cleaning this year into a few different areas:

• Part I: exterior of the house - front & back yard, back deck & patio.
• Part II: main level - entryway, living room, kitchen
• Part III: upper level - both bedrooms (including closets), bathroom, attic
• Part IV: lower level - basement, basement bath, under stairs storage area, utility storage area, laundry room.

I am going to be posting before/progress pics as we get thru each of the areas. We'll likely be doing each of the areas concurrently, but I'm going to post the "to do" lists & before pics in parts (so as to avoid a ridiculously LONG post). So, I'll start with Part I - the exterior since we actually got started with the work we want done on this area this past Friday.

Front Yard To Do's:

Last summer, we did a MAJOR clean up of what I lovingly called our "forest" - AKA our former front yard. It was a hot mess to say the least. We were sooo happy to see it cleaned up. I'm happy to report that even after the snowmageddon + the two other huge snow storms that hit our area this winter, our front yard/landscaping held up pretty well. We lost two of our little solar lights & the rest are all crooked, but still work! And as you can see from the photos above, parts of our grass were ruined. Also, as you can see in photo #1 - the Evergreen tree to the right of the house was damaged. So, on the spring cleaning to do list for this area of the house (crossed out are the items that have already been completed):

• Trim branches on large tree away from house & from hanging low over stairs.
• Trim off damaged parts of the evergreen & possibly remove tree completely (need HOA approval to do this).
•  Plant grass seed, keep watered, cross fingers that it grows!
• Pull up weeds in flower beds & around tree.
• Plant annuals & re-mulch.
• Get house & stairs power washed.

Back (upper level) Deck To Do's: 

We have never really done anything with our deck since buying the house three years ago. We have been waiting & waiting & WAITING for our HOA to approve some deck stain colors so that we can stain & seal the deck. It's badly in need of some TLC, but unfortunately we are under the rules of the HOA as to what we can do to the outside of our house. We plan on attending the next HOA meeting on May 11th to find out about their decision on the deck stain colors - urrg, it gets really frustrating with them sometimes.

We also purchased a really cheap patio table & chairs from K-Mart the first year we bought the house just to tide us over until we could afford to buy what we really wanted the following summer (2008). Well, three years later, we never bought a new set. It just was not high on our priority list, so it fell to the side. This year we may or may not get around to it, but the set we have will continue to do for now. I added it to the spring cleaning to do list for this area just in case we decide to purchase one this year:

• Look for & purchase an outdoor dining set (we currently have a cheapo plastic set).
• Get deck power washed.
• Re-stain & seal the deck.

Back Yard & (lower level) Patio To Do's:

I was a little embarrassed to take before pictures of this area, but I also kinda forgot to take a picture before the work got started in the back. You can see a little of the forest pat deux in the deck photo above. It was pretty bad - I mean weeds, small bushes, small trees, etc. and none of it ever kept up. But to make up for that, I took some in progress pics:

Ahhhh, so clean, such a blank slate!

We hired an independent contractor (referred to us by my mom) to do some of the work around the outside of the house that we couldn't or didn't want to do ourselves. They cleaned out the back yard area, trimmed the trees up front & cleaned up all that stuff for $225. We thought that was an awesome price b/c we had gotten a quote last summer for $500 just to clear out the back yard! Here is the spring cleaning list for this area:

• Get weeds, bushes, etc. removed from the area.
• Get sod laid surrounding the patio.
• Clean under the deck area, get rid of any debris in that area.
• Fix exterior water spout (it has never worked since we bought the house; but we need it for the sod!!
• Buy a small sitting/bistro set for the patio.

Now you see why I needed to break this up into several posts! And I still have three more areas left to make spring cleaning lists for! We are doing pretty good so far on our Part I & plan on getting even more done next weekend! Have you started on your spring cleaning yet?! I'd love to see what you've done so far!

5 Question Friday!

Hey everyone! If you are joining me for the first time this week, I have been working hard trying to get my new blog design launched & I'm happy to say (as you can see ;oP)...it is up & I LOVE it! Did you see the new Michaels gift card winner I announced yesterday - if it's you, hurry & contact me at worldofdennifer@gmail.com.

I cannot tell you how 'effing excited I am that the weekend is here. I can tell I'm domesticated b/c do you want to know what I am excited about this weekend? 1) getting an estimate for the yard work & power washing we need to get done (the guy will be here today to look around), 2) cleaning up the weeds that are beginning to grow in our front yard, 3) picking out annuals to plant & re-mulching the front flower bed, and 4) getting our state taxes done. Hahahaha - dork, right?! Man, what happened to the days about being excited about partying late into the night, going bar hopping, and shopping for a new weekend outfit? Le sigh. I guess that's what happens when you settle down & get married - I kid, I kid. Your priorities just change.

And speaking of priorities - this week I made a major decision to stop participating with a group that I have been involved with since college - I have been very involved for the last six years & it has been a major source of drama, anxiety & stress (basic cattiness) for my life, but I made the decision this week to not be involved anymore. I'm not a quiter, but I feel like I needed to do this for my sanity. People have crossed the line & it's not acceptable to me. It feels like a HUGE weight has been lifted & I can't wait to hand in my resignation letter (I hold an office) next month. In other stress reducing news, I'll be out of the office for the next two weeks for training, woot! I don't really like the classes, but I am happy to be out of the office & closer to my house!

Okay, okay, so enough about me...time for 5QF - the April 16, 2010 edition:

If any of my readers decide to participate this week, please comment on this post, I'd love to read your Q&A! Here goes....

1. What words do you use on your blog/online that you don't use in real life?

Hmmm, um well I don't use the word "bloggy", "woot", "le sigh", basically anything that people would look at me & go, "huh?!" LOL. I try to at least pretend I'm cool IRL. :oP

2. Do you still write checks?

 

Only for our gas, water, HOA (Home Owners Association) & electric bills. Oddly enough, these companies charge a fee for paying online in my area & our HOA doesn't have the option, so to avoid unnecessary/stupid fees, I write checks. Everything else we receive electronically & pay electronically...you know, tryna stay "Green." We even balance our checking account via an online spreadsheet that we both have access to - that was courtesy of my budget-obssessed, spreadsheet-lovin' hubby.

 

3. Who was your favorite President and why?

 

I am essentially liberal, but respect everyone's views & even agree with some conservative points in the whole political debate. Honestly, if I know someone who is really passionate about politics, then I try & just not talk about the topic too much when I hang out with them. I'd rather just not get into. But, my two faves are Bill Clinton & our current Prez - Barack Obama. Regardless of how he was as a husband, I think BC did a lot of good things for the country when he was president, granted I was quite young during his term. And Barack - well I work for the Government, so he's sorta my boss now ::winks:: :o) & I also just think he's such a provacative speaker & changed the way US presidential campaigns will be conducted in the future. His whole grassroots approach really worked out for him & so far, I think he's delivering what he promised during his campaign. Do I totally agree with the Healthcare Bill or (insert any other of his policies/proposed policies here) - no, but I can respect that he doesn't just talk about it, he be's about it, lol.

I also really wish I had been alive when JFK was president, I bet he'd be on my list as well - he seemed like an amazing man.

4. Are you a yeller?

Nope, not really. But if someone raises their voice at me, then I can get loud too.

5. Have you ever dumpster dived?

 

Bwahahaha. Yep, but not in the traditional sense of the phrase. My dad was p!ssed! My mom had just bought both my older sister & I real birthstone rings for Christmas. The realness of them was a big deal since I was like 11 or 12 & I didn't own any real jewlery before that ring. I believe & my dad took us out to lunch one day shortly after we got the rings (some fast food place). Well a couple hours after lunch, I noticed my ring was gone!! And since my mom would have killed me, I begged my dad to take me back to the restaurant & they let us go thru the most recently disposed-of trash bags & we actually found my ring! I know, needle in a hay stack, but it was worth it that day. Consequently, I ended up loosing the dang on ring again a few months later & my mom was then p!ssed. I was just too young to have real jewlery - that's all it boils down to. My mom never bought me any more jewlery until I was out of high school, hahaha.

Hope you enjoyed this edition of 5QF. Spring cleaning list & *hopefully* some front yard updates coming soon.

New look + new Michaels gift card winner!!

Hey everyone! What do you think of my new look?! Exciting right? I gotta give a shout out to Lindsay over at Blogaholic Designs for making my new look sooo awesome! If you are looking for someone to design your blog at a great price & with a quick turnaround, she's your girl! The whole process took less than a week!

And now, I have a button, yaay! So, please grab my button & put it on your blog. If you do, please comment on this or any of my posts & I'll be sure to return the favor & add your button to my sidebar! I heart bloggy friends. :)

Also, great news for a very very lucky follower of mine. The rules for my 1st Ever World of Dennifer Giveaway (for a $25 Michaels gift card) stated that the winner selected would be posted on my blog by Monday, April 12, 2010, and that person would have 48 hours to contact me at worldofdennifer@gmail.com to claim her prize. I never received an email from my original winner (sorry! email me & I'll send you a small token of my appreciation for following me anyways :oD), so I re-drew a new winner on random.org this morning...and the very lucky NEW winner is:

Lucky #19...

Jamie, who said...

I need to get some supplies for making my best friends bridal shower & bachelorette party invitations! Thanks!

So Jamie, you now have 48 hours to contact me at worldofdennifer@gmail.com to claim your prize. Please send me your full name & mailing address so that I can send out your prize!! Please let me know if you blog about the invites you'll be making, I'd love to see how beautiful they turned out. Congrats!

Under Construction

I am currently working to get World of Dennifer's new look up & running. There may be some points here & there where the blog looks a little minimal as I work thru the transition. Please bear with me!

Winner - Michaels $25 Gift Card!!

:waves hi to my new & long-time followers::

First, I want to thank everyone who reads my blog - you guys keep me on my feet & keep me crafting so that I actually have stuff to write about! Second, thanks to everyone who entered World of Dennifer's 1st Giveaway! I loved reading what each of you would use the gift card on - I hope that even if you were not chosen as the winner that you still make those awesome DIY projects & let me know, so I can stop by your blog & check 'em out! Okay, okay, so without further adieu...drum roll...the winner (randomly selected by random.org) is:

Lucky #9...

 Susan, who said...  

Wooo! I follow. :) 

susaneva_77 at yahoo dot com

Congrats Susan!! You are the lucky winner of the $25 Michaels gift card! I saw in your second entry that you plan on using the gift card to work on your son's baby book?! Have fun & I'm sure it'll turn out BEAUTIFUL! Please contact me via email at worldofdennifer@gmail.com within 48 hours to claim your prize, or I will have to pick another winner. 

Thanks again to everyone for entering & stay tuned this week - I have lots of cool stuff coming up, like my spring cleaning to-do list, a few yummy recipes & a spring decorating update! I am also working with a designer on a new blog design, which I will hopefully be able to unveil sometime next week!!!

My DIY initial spring wreath!

Hey there ::waves hi:: to everyone reading Linda's fab blog, Craftaholics Anonymous, my name is Jen J. & I am a long time reader of Linda's blog & like to do a little crafting of my own over at the World of Dennifer.  I have a lot more crafts and D&R projects over on my blog, so if you stop over, please feel free to look through my archives for some of my past projects & follow me (even grab my button if it tickles your fancy ;o) if you'd like to keep up with my future projects. I am so excited to be participating in the Craftaholics Anonymous Reader's Tutorial Week & I hope you enjoy my wreath tutorial as much as I enjoyed making it...it was inexpensive to make & is so pretty on my door! Feel free to contact me at worldofdennifer@gmail.com if you have any questions about this or any other DIY project on my blog!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sooo I finally got a chance to sit down & do my DIY spring {but keeping it up for the summer because I love it so much} wreath for our front door. I got my inspiration for my wreath from Kari over at Rocky Bella - I loved her spring initial wreath so much that I decided to make one of my own (with a few personal touches)...Ta da:

I pretty much just followed her directions, so first I headed to Michaels to get the supplies I needed:

A grape vine wreath (14"), a mini birds nest, some speckled faux eggs, a couple cream colored butterflies & a pretty good-sized bag of green moss. You will also need wide ribbon, a wreath hanger, a glue gun & several glue sticks for this project - I already had all of these things on hand, so I didn't have to buy any of that. Oh & if you want your last initial on the wreath, you will want to grab a wooden letter from Michaels as well - I also had one of these on hand (if you want your letter white, then grab the kind they have that are already painted white - saved me a step)!

Then, I just plugged up my hot glue gun & got to work gluing on clumps of green moss to cover the wreath. You want to make sure you generously cover the wreath, otherwise it'll look a little bare.

Once the wreath is completely covered with moss to your satisfaction, position your initial letter on your wreath & figure out how you want to mount it on the wreath. I put mine up against my door to make sure that the way the letter was positioned on the wreath looked how I wanted it to. Once you figure out where you want the letter, glue it on to the wreath (use a decent amount of glue so that it holds the letter completely). After that, I just glued the faux speckled eggs into the mini nest & glued the nest on the wreath, and finished it off by sticking the butterflies into the wreath where I wanted them (they had wire backings, so they easily stuck into the wreath).

(sorry - not sure why this pic uploaded sideways, but you get the point, no?)

I hung the wreath on the door with a standard wreath hanger, then tied my ribbon so that it covered the hanger & made a bow in the back (on the other side of the door), so that it stayed put...does that make sense?? And that's it. Very, very easy wreath, although I got 2 pretty bad glue burns on my left thumb & right ring fingers - OUCH! I got small blisters & everything. ::humph::  :o/ Ah, the things we do for our DIY projects, lol. But I LOVE LOVE LOOOOVE the way it came out - exactly what I needed to dress up my front door for the spring!

Dizz likes sitting at the storm door & people watching during the day; I like keeping the door open b/c it lets natural light into our living room, so it's a win-win. Anywho, what do you think of my spring wreath?! You likes!? I hope so b/c I loves & guess what, if you do like it & wanna make your own, you can enter the World of Dennifer's 1st ever giveaway [now closed], win the $25 Michaels gift card & head over to Michaels & buy all the supplies to make it. Here is the cost break down:

Grapevine Wreath = $4

Bag 'O Green Moss = $2.25 (original $4.49, but I used a 50% coupon I had)

Mini Nest = $2

Faux Speckled Eggs = $2

Wired Butterflies = $2

Wreath Hanger; Wide Ribbon; Wooden Initial; Glue Gun & Extra Glue Sticks = FREE (I already had these items on hand)

TOTAL = $12.25

So, you could totally make this & still have a good amount left over to make anything else your heart desires!! Hurry & enter my giveaway [closed] - it ends tomorrow at 10PM (EST). And now that my front door is ready (and my allergies have calmed down at least a wee bit), I can finally say...Happy Spring!!