Thanks to the four inches of snow that fell yesterday, I am typing this with freezing cold fingers while wearing sweats and huddling under a heavy blanket. Our heat is turned on to a respectable 68 degrees, but the problem is that the large picture window in our back room has bad seals, and the cold air just seeps right on in. What we really need in that room is some kind of extra heat.

I was thinking about getting a wall heater like we have for the boys’ room, but the problem with that is that the back room is so much bigger, that the heat generated by a wall heater just wouldn’t warm the whole room. I really wish the room had a fireplace, not because I would want to light an actual fire, but because we could get vent free gas logs, which don’t use actual flame but put out an impressive amount of heat. Plus, they look nice. I’m hoping that some day we can get that window fixed and remodel that room, and get some more freaking heat back there!

My neighbor across the street is one of those people that always has to do more than everyone else. If one person on our block decorates their porch with pumpkins and little scarecrow figures, then she has to buy a new personalized doormat with bats and jack o lanterns on it, an inflatable ghost for her front yard, and orange lights to wrap around her tree. If you ask me, it’s overkill. I can’t wait to see the giant inflatable turkey she’s sure to have for Thanksgiving.

I’ve been noticing that my neighbors are replacing the traditional plain black numbers next to their front doors with personalized address plaques, too. I found a site called Roland’s Housewarming Gifts that sells them in a variety of materials including metal, ceramic, slate, plus ones that are illuminated by small lights. That would make a nice housewarming gift for someone, wouldn’t it?

And then there are the personalized house signs. Why use a thin metal sign you bought at Wal-Mart to tell people to “Beware of Dog” or “No Trespassing”, when you can get a molded aluminum sign in different colors and scripts? There are so many ways to dress up the outside of your house and personalize it. Giant inflatable turkeys are, of course, optional.