DeDivahDeals

Fashion and Fun after Fifty

Posts Tagged ‘summer’

Homelite Pressure Washer | Unsolicited Product Review

Hello Friends and Happy Saturday!

Last weekend was absolutely gorgeous, and I as well as most of the neighbors were outside working on our lawns and gardens. I also had to head over to Home Depot to replace a Pressure Washer which had been broken for years, and get new seat cushions for the patio furniture.  

Hubby isn’t fully recovered yet so I had to make the purchase as well as put it together myself.  Knowing that there are other woman who may need to do the same, I decided to do an unsolicited review on the process.

Homelite Pressure Washer Review

I purchased the Homelite Gas Pressure Washer for $299.00 and a bottle of Zep Pressure Washing Concentrate

Years of dirt and grime

This is what the concrete on the front stoop looked like due to years of neglect…a major build up of dirt and grime..not very welcoming!

Almost fully assembled

I loved the fact that the pressure washer was packaged almost fully assembled.

Remaining pieces

The remaining items in the box were the hose, wand, handle, bottle of oil, nozzles, warranty information and directions.

Nozzle instructions printed on the back

There’s also an instruction sheet adhered to the back of the pressure washer for easy reference.

Attaching water hose

It was easy to attach the handle and hose

Attach garden hose

as well as to attach the household garden hose.

Add oil  It comes with a bottle of oil and a paper funnel, which I didn’t see until after I used this Dollar store plastic funnel which we keep in the garage.

oil tank is clearly marked Location of oil tank is clearly marked.

Homelite Pressure Washer Review

After all hoses are attached, fill tank with gasoline, 

Add Zep All in One Concentrate add Zep All in One Soap Concentrate.

Turn switch to "On", slide to "Chock" and Pull Turn switch to “on”, slide to “choke” and pull the starter cord, then push switch from “choke” to “run”. It was an easy starter pull unlike the older models.

The nozzles are color coded and the reference sheet is attached to pressure washer

The nozzles are color coded and there’s a reference card attached to the handle of pressure washer.

Choose correct nozzle for the job

Always choose the correct nozzle for the job, check reference card for determination.

Once I got the hang of it, I started cleaning the brick wall

Once I got the hang of it, I used it to clean the brick wall as well.

Only complaint - cheap plastic cover ripped - not sure how because I didn't drag the pressure washer

My only complaint was the cheap plastic covering the hose, it ripped.  I am not sure how because I don’t remember dragging it across the concrete.

I give it a B grade

 

I could have done a better job, but started getting tired however, it does look much better.  Next weekend I’ll do the vinyl siding and patio furniture, then on to the pool area.  

What are your major outdoor chores for the summer?

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Weekend Wind-Down Party #3

Hello Friends and Welcome to the Weekend Wind-Down Party #3

WWDPARTY BUTTON

 I hope you all had a wonderful week and to all of my Northeast friends, ARE YOU SICK OF THE SNOW?  I hate to admit it, but I am, and I want my pool to look like this:

Pool

Not like this!

Winter Pool

 Well at least it’s Fri-Yay and I know this weekend’s party is going to be FABU because last week there were over 100 bloggers and we had a blast!

I am over-the-top excited to be part of this fabulous group of bloggers in hosting these weekly parties.  It’s wonderful sitting back and reading what you have shared because the posts are all so wonderful!

Let’s begin with this week’s featured bloggers:

surviving-to-thriving

From This Kitchen Table

Budget-Master-Bedroom-Makeover-great-ideas1

Carrie This Home

winter wreath

Neverending Decorating

TotRides-Logo

Tot Rides 

more pieces of me

More Pieces of Me

14 tips

Tadpegs

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Michelle Paige

homemade cleaning recipes

Ducks n a Row 

Thank you for your submissions, they are now featured on our Pinterest Page as well.  Please feel free to display this button on your blog.

i was featured button

This is only our 3rd week but we had to tweak the rules just a bit for clarification.  We are glad that you are here and want to extend a warm Welcome Back to our returning friends and a warm Welcome Hello to all the newbies!

 

WWDParty Rules

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stop by and say hello after you finished sharing your post.

 

HOSTS OF #WWDPARTY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annette (This Simple Home) – Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Google+/Pinterest

Antionette (De Divah Deals) – Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Google+/Pinterest/LinkedIn/Instagram

Danielle (My Snippets of Inspiration) – Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Google+/Pinterest/LinkedIn

Kay (A Ranch Mom) – Blog/Facebook/Twitter

Nicole M. (Mendez Manor) – Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Google+/Pinterest/LinkedIn/Instagram

Nicole R. (A Living Sacrifice) – Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest/LinkedIn

Sarah (Mustard Seed Mommy…ME!) – Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Google+/Pinterest/Instagram

Teresa (Moms Who Save) – Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Google+/Pinterest/Instagram/Website

  Now let’s get this party started!

 


Wearing White After Labor Day

Are you a WALDO?

Do you have a White After Labor Day Outfit?

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Growing up I used to hear people say that you should never ever wear white after Labor Day. Growing up we didn’t have many clothes so I probably didn’t have enough white outfits to wear the entire summer let alone carry over past Labor Day.

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Now the older I get the quicker the seasons seem to change and the larger my wardrobe grows. I don’t know about you, but I never get a chance to wear all of my summer outfits in the summer months. Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer, but September 21st is the actual date so I will continue to wear white until then and maybe perhaps even into Fall.

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Remember when I got these jeans for $1.00 at JCPenney

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Hubby took my pics this morning – he makes me smile – I love him so!

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This top has been hanging in my closet for as long as I can remember

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Oh and you know my toes stay open until it snows!

Mossimo Sandals via Target

How about you, do you wear white after Labor Day?

Linking up the entire month of September with Bloggy Moms – hop on over and join in on the fun

September2013BlogHop

Have a fantastical day – Smooches!

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Throwback Thursday DIY

Hello Friends and Happy Friday Eve!

Can you believe that next week it will be Labor Day, the unofficial end of Summer – where did August go? I don’t know about you but I don’t rush to put away my summer clothes and break out the Autumn gear.  I like to leisurely linger into Indian Summer by continuing to wear white jeans and sundresses.

Last year I did a few Labor Day DIY’s one of which was upcycling a Sundress into a Maxi Skirt, you can read that post HERE.  Today I am wearing that Maxi Skirt with a mustard-color blouse thrifted from GW Boutique (Goodwill) and Wedge Sandals from Target.

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TLP Handbag – TJ Maxx

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When the weather cools, I will wear an oversized sweater with the skirt

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Gold tone accessories including watch from Avon and ring from Burlington Coat Factory

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Are you ready for the cooler weather of Autumn or are you like me and love the heat of the Summer?

Today I am linking up with Katherines Corner, come on over and congratulate her on reaching 10,000 followers – woohoo!

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Have a fantastical day – Smooches!

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Friday Foodie Feature – Campbell’s Slow Cooker Sauce

Hello Friends and Happy Fri-Yay!

Wow, what a whirlwind week…why is it that in the winter months time drags and moves slowly but when it’s summer it speeds by like a freight train on steroids?

In 2 days we’ll be celebrating 23 years of marriage, and yes, that too seems like it flew by.  There were times when we experienced “winter months” and time lagged, but with the grace of God, we are now in our “summer” months – like a freight train on steroids – lol!

If you are like me, you are still grilling outdoors and this may be an early start for an indoor Crockpot meal, but I wanted to try the Campbell’sSlow Cooker Sauce.

Ingredients:

  • Campbell’s Slow Cooker Sauce – Sweet Korean BBQ w Roasted Ginger & Sesame
  • Jasmine Rice – Dellarice.com
  • Beef – 2-3 lbs
  • Slow Cooker/Crock Pot

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The beef was placed in the Crock Pot, did not use cooking spray nor add any water

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Covered beef with Campbell’s Slow Cooker Sauce

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7 hours on low

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Shredded beef with 2 forks

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Cooked rice as package directions and covered with shredded beef

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My sons love tacos and burritos so I made these for them.

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There are 3 other Campbell’s Slow Cooker Sauces that I’ll try, and this Korean BBQ was just the right blend.  It wasn’t too salty which would have been a turn off for me.

Do you use the Slow Cooker in the summer?

Have a fantastical day – Smooches!

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Friday Foodie Feature – Campbell's Slow Cooker Sauce

Hello Friends and Happy Fri-Yay!

Wow, what a whirlwind week…why is it that in the winter months time drags and moves slowly but when it’s summer it speeds by like a freight train on steroids?

In 2 days we’ll be celebrating 23 years of marriage, and yes, that too seems like it flew by.  There were times when we experienced “winter months” and time lagged, but with the grace of God, we are now in our “summer” months – like a freight train on steroids – lol!

If you are like me, you are still grilling outdoors and this may be an early start for an indoor Crockpot meal, but I wanted to try the Campbell’sSlow Cooker Sauce.

Ingredients:

  • Campbell’s Slow Cooker Sauce – Sweet Korean BBQ w Roasted Ginger & Sesame
  • Jasmine Rice – Dellarice.com
  • Beef – 2-3 lbs
  • Slow Cooker/Crock Pot

Salvation Army $avings 013

The beef was placed in the Crock Pot, did not use cooking spray nor add any water

Salvation Army $avings 015

Salvation Army $avings 016

Covered beef with Campbell’s Slow Cooker Sauce

Salvation Army $avings 019

7 hours on low

Salvation Army $avings 021 (1)

Shredded beef with 2 forks

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Cooked rice as package directions and covered with shredded beef

Salvation Army $avings 025

My sons love tacos and burritos so I made these for them.

Salvation Army $avings 029 (1)

There are 3 other Campbell’s Slow Cooker Sauces that I’ll try, and this Korean BBQ was just the right blend.  It wasn’t too salty which would have been a turn off for me.

Do you use the Slow Cooker in the summer?

Have a fantastical day – Smooches!

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Totally Thrifted and Avon Accessories

Hello Friends and Happy Tuesday!

Summer is is flying by so quickly can you believe tomorrow is the last day of July!

This outfit which I wore last Friday was totally thrifted from GW Boutique and was very comfortable for the weather.  Last week there were several temperature fluctuations that ended with a torrential rain storm on Sunday.  Motorist returning from the beach and shore were stranded on major highways for hours.  This week we are in store for beautiful, low humidity days perfect for anyone taking a late vacation to the beach.

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Top to Bottom thrifted from GW Boutique

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Accessories (Watch, Necklace, Bracelet) – Avon

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Are you ready for summer to end?

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Linking up today with Thrifters Anonymous – come on over and meet other thrifty fashionistas!

Have a fantabulous day – Smooches!

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Pool Time = Fun Time ~ Not All The Time!

Hello Friends and Happy Fri-Yay!

Here we go again…another summer weekend, will it be hot and dry or cool and rainy?  Last Saturday was a perfect day and I had plans of lounging poolside all afternoon, but sometimes pool maintenance can change the best laid plans.  I often dream of having a “Pool Boy”, someone to keep the chemicals balanced, remove the debris and skim the leaves…someone too…HOLD ON…wait a minute! pool boy

 Hubby wouldn’t like that very much and I would probably end up getting someone like Nick Cannon in “Love Don’t Cost A Thing!”pool boy2

We’ve had our pool for about 18 years and there is always maintenance involved some more intense than others like the replacement of tiles.  These fell off a few years ago and it took me too many hours on Saturday to replace them.

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I stopped at Leslie’s Pool Supplies and purchased Patch It, it wasn’t hard to make the putty but like that scene from The Cosby Show, I’d seal one tile and another would fall off – it was frustrating to say the least.

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After several hours of this I gave up but only after using the entire bucket!

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Of course then I had to vacuum out the residue and skim the leaves!

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After all that, I was finally able to sit back and relax for a whole 2 hours!!

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So if you happen to be in the neighborhood – stop by & bring a cold one…AND a Pool Boy!

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Have a fantastical day – Smooches!

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Six Summer Songs and a Sundress

Hello Friends,

do you want to make the 1st Monday of the summer better?

Then do what I do, think of your favorite summer songs, you know the ones that you just have to hear every year no matter how old it is…the ones you only listen to when it’s hot outside or when you’re on vacation?

Okay, now download, stream or pull them up on Pandora, turn up the volume, then sing along loudly in your office or cubicle – sike…don’t get fired…or carted off to Bellevue,  just sing quietly and chair dance!

This is the list with link to my six favorite summer songs.

Sundress – C.o.C.o Brown & The Phat Cat Players

Summertime – Will Smith

Under The Boardwalk – The Drifters

Celebration – Kool & The Gang

Hot Hot Hot – Buster Poindexter

Heatwave – Martha & The Vandellas

Summer songs and summer wear seem to go hand-in hand, hence my #1 jam, so when it’s hot all day everyday, I prefer a sundress.  This is one of my favorites thrifted from GW Boutique.

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Infinity Scarf – Target (clearance)

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Sandals – Ross

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It’s getting HOT out here!

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Have a fantabulous day – Smooches!

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