Kitchen Remodel: Before and After (Part 3)
I'm really thrilled with the way this kitchen remodel turned out. This is the 4th home I've owned, and I've done progressively more work to the kitchen with each move. This is the first time I totally gutted a kitchen, and the first time I had to buy cabinets. First...
Kitchen Remodel: Before and After (Part 2)
Yesterday I shared pictures of my kitchen before I started any remodeling work. While plenty of people may have left the kitchen alone or made only minor updates, I saw the potential in my kitchen for a modern kitchen with an open design. My original plan was to take...
Kitchen Remodel: Before and After (Part 1)
When I bought my new house in December, I knew the first big project would be to remodel the kitchen. For you to really understand this transformation, you need to see pictures of before, during and after, and that's too much for one post. So I've decided to make this...
Planning Your Herb Garden {INFOGRAPHICS}
This spring, I plan to grow a herb garden. When I lived in my first 2 houses, I grew herbs most summers. Then I moved to a condo and had no place to grow anything. I did have a deck with sunlight, but I know my limits and there was no way that I would have kept...
Getting Back to Cooking and Dog Rescue (plus my New Kitchen Preview)
You probably noticed (or maybe you didn't) that I haven't been writing much here at Future Expat over the last few months. The reason is pretty simple. I sold my condo and bought a new house in December. Between the move and work, I just haven't had the energy to put...
6 Green Moving Tips
I've moved a lot of times in the last 25 years but my move last month was the first time I've done a green move. Now that I'm unpacked, I'm wanted to share my 6 moving tips to make your move more environmentally friendly. 1. Plastic Crates Instead of Boxes Most people...
Shopping Thrift Stores for Holiday Decor
If you like decorating for holidays, I've got a tip that will save you a ton of money and let you pick up new items every year. Shop for your holiday decorations at thrift stores. I know, many of you think of thrift stores as just for poor people. I challenge you to...
How I Got a Credit Score Over 800 and You Can Too!
I'm a real estate agent, so I deal with credit issues all of the time. Since I know how important credit is for everyone, I was excited when a PR company asked me to put together a sponsored post for Credit Karma™. While I was compensated for sharing this information,...
Top 5 Ways to Use Your Tablet
With the trend moving away from desktops to laptops and now tablets, the way we use technology has really changed. I have a laptop, tablet and smartphone. I have a go-to device that varies depending on what I am doing. My tablet gets the least use of the 3, but that...
8 Kitchen Features to Add to Your Kitchen
When it is time to redo your kitchen, there are so many choices to make. I completed my kitchen renovation a year ago and wouldn't change a single thing. If I ever move, I'll definitely use what I learned in this kitchen renovation and incorporate these features in...
Galley Kitchen Remodel – Before & After Pictures
I can't believe that I finished my kitchen remodel almost a year ago and never got around to posting pictures of the finished project. The kitchen was torn up for about a month, but I'm so glad I did it. I didn't replace the cabinets, but everything else is new:...
Netflix Hidden Gems – 20 More Great Movies
A while ago I put together a list of 20 Netflix hidden gems. I've been surprised how popular that post has been. Actually, it's my most popular non-recipe post on the website. I figured it was time to put together a follow up list. Here are 20 more Netflix movies that...
8 Fire Safety Tips You Need to Know
All of us remember being taught fire safety as children. We were taught to stop, drop and roll if our clothing ever caught on fire. We were taught to get down on our hands and knees and crawl below the smoke if we were trapped in a fire. But few of us know how to keep...
Recycle Your Holiday Lights
Recycling options go beyond paper and plastic nowadays, so it's no surprise that St. Louis Green has implemented a holiday light drive. As you are taking down your old or broken lights, don't throw them in the trash and have them end up in a landfill. Instead, drop...
13 Year Old Boy Shares 8 Things That Make Us Happy
Logan LaPlante starts his 11 minute TEDx presentation sharing that when he grows up, he wants to be happy and healthy. He talks about how children focus on things they are passionate about...or stoked about...in Logan's words. At just 13, Logan is already a wonderful...
Thanksgiving is about Being Thankful and Giving
When most of us think about Thanksgiving, we think of turkey and overeating and spending time with family. Others get excited about spending the day watching football or Black Friday shopping deals. But if we stop and take a moment to reflect, Thanksgiving is about...
How Long Do Couples Wait to Say “I Love You”?
I'm single, but I found this infographic created by Wedding Paper Divas fascinating. They did a survey and asked questions like: How long were you dating before you said "I Love You"? How long was it before you met your fiancé's parents? How long was your engagement?...
Add a Separate Shower and Tub to a Skinny Bathroom
Ever since I became a homeowner, I've wanted a home with a bathroom with a separate tub and shower. Sadly, none of the homes I've owned had bathrooms big enough to rearrange and add a separate tub and shower. Until now. A year ago I bought a condo with a a big master...
GIVEAWAY Winners Announced ~ 2 Winners Get $100 to Dine Out in St. Louis
A couple of weeks ago I announced my first big giveaway and it's time to announce the winners! Two lucky winners will receive 10 gift certificates worth $10 each to St. Louis area restaurants. And the lucky winners are....drumroll... Julie Willbrand wins the St. Louis...
Video Inspiration ~ Rethink Why You Do What You Do
Why do you do what you do? If we are talking about your business or career, you could have chosen so many things to do for a living. You could have worked for many different companies. You could have worked for someone else instead of starting your own business. I ask...
Join the St. Louis Link Up Party
I've recently started participating in linky parties as a way to get more exposure for the blog posts I publish on Future Expat. It's pretty new so I'm not sure how much time I will devote to this yet, but I've already had several people read and comment on my post...
GIVEAWAY ~ $100 in Gift Certificates to St. Louis Restaurants
If you live in the St. Louis area and love to eat out as much as I do, then this is the giveaway for you! I am giving away 20 gift certificates worth $10 each. Each winner will get ten FoodieSTL $10 gift certificates that are valid through March 2014. You do have to...
Shopping List Basics That Should Be in Every Pantry
It's easy to walk through the grocery store and fill your shopping cart with things that make mealtime quick and easy. Shelf after shelf is filled with boxed, frozen and prepared items that you can just pop in a microwave or oven and have dinner ready in a few...
Save 50% off Fall Bulbs for Sharing Your Recipe Ideas
I have a game I play with myself to see how long I can go between grocery shopping trips. I started my Clean Out the Pantry Game a few years ago when I realized that I kept going to the grocery store and buying more of the stuff I eat all the time, while I had things...
Kwikset Kevo Lock Turns Your Smartphone into Your House Key
Over the last 10 years, we've seen more and more technology integrated into homes. Kwikset has a new lock that offers a lot of promise to make our lives easier and more secure. The Kwikset Kevo lock works with the iPhone 4s and 5 so all you have to do is touch the...
Sign Up for Emails from Future Expat
For those of you who don't want to miss out on any of the great stuff I'm writing, I've created a fancy new email through Mailchimp which will email you daily or weekly with the latest articles. Anyone who has been receiving the daily email updates will see a change...
13 Amazon Instant Video Movies to Watch
If you are like me, you see the same movies pop up over and over as you search for something to watch. I used to subscribe to Netflix, but took a break a few months ago after not finding much new to watch. I am an Amazon Prime member which gets me free shipping on...
Gel Fireplace Logs can Transform an Unused Fireplace
I've been looking into converting my wood burning fireplace to something that doesn't require me to carry firewood up 2 flights of stairs from the garage. I also find that while I LOVE real fires, I'm not going to start one unless I'll be sitting by the fireplace all...
Update Your Bathrooms with a Granite Vanity Top
One of the easiest way to update an outdated bathroom is to add granite vanity tops. You have a few options for purchasing granite tops for your bathroom on a budget: Buy a new cabinet and granite top combo from a store like Home Depot or Lowes. Buy a new granite top...
Summer Float Trips in Missouri
I love float trips. For those of you not from the midwest, float trips are not the same as white water river trips that you will find in other parts of the country. On float trips...you float. You relax. You drink adult beverages. You sing at the top of your lungs...
Small Bathroom Remodel on a Budget
Last fall, I bought a condo that needed some remodeling. While the bathrooms were usable, they weren't pretty. I started with the small main floor bathroom remodel since it was a smaller project than the master bathroom and could be finished more quickly. Since I was...
Sherwood Forest Camp Needs Volunteers
Sherwood Forest Camp transforms lives. But they can't do it alone. They need your help. By volunteering for a week or more at camp this summer, you can have an impact on a child's life that will last forever. Sherwood Forest Camp serves kids from the St. Louis area,...
Furniture Nightmare from La-Z-Boy Store
I bought my first new couch when I got out of college in 1990. Since then, I have bought furniture from a dozen different stores . I have NEVER had such a bad experience with purchasing furniture as I have with my recent purchase from the La-Z-Boy store in Brentwood,...
Help Local Teachers: Donate to the St. Louis Teachers’ Recycle Center
Many of us now routinely separate our trash so as much as possible goes to a recycling center instead of a landfill. A number of St. Louis municipalities even include free single stream recycle bins and pickup for residents to make it as easy as possible. But plenty...
Pinterest Inspiration: Upcycle Ideas for your Garden
Garden season is just around the corner. Pinterest offers many ideas for reusing discarded items in your garden. Here are 3 Pinterest inspirations that I found recently. I love this idea. Pick up an old teapot at a thrift store, then hang it from the handle from a...
Tammy’s Adoption Story ~ From Guatemala to St. Louis
Every now and then you meet someone who inspires you. I met Tammy and Andy Orahood when they moved to St. Louis and I was lucky enough to be their real estate agent. Tammy Orahood with Henry (L) and Franklin (R) at their new house In our first conversation, Tammy and...
Pinterest Inspiration: Things to Make with Your Kids
I don't have kids, but I still get inspired by fun things I see on Pinterest that I know kids would love. Here are 3 ways to put a smile on the faces of the kids in your life while keeping them busy at the same time. This caught my eye last summer. I just love the...
What is Your Home’s Walk Score?
Like most people, the location of my home has been one of the most important factors for me each time I've decided to move. For some people, nearby schools might be the key issue. For others, easy access to highways or a good fitness center might be the most...
Is Your Home Giving You Lung Cancer?
See U.S. interactive map Did you know that high levels of radon, a naturally occurring gas that we breathe every day, is the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer? Did you know that it is easy to find out if the radon rate in your home is dangerous? Did you know that it is...
Volunteer Weekend at Sherwood Forest Camp – Help Us Help the Kids
Volunteers at Sherwood Forest Camp's 1st Trades Weekend If you can use a paintbrush or a hammer, Sherwood Forest Camp can use your help. I first stepped into Sherwood Forest Camp 25 years ago. I stopped at a table in the middle of Brady Commons at Mizzou and met...
Researching Life as an Expat – Top 5 Blogs
Photo Credit On my trip this weekend to Indianapolis, I was explaining to my traveling companion my dreams of becoming an expat. While we were talking, I starting thinking about how reading blogs from other expats turned a passing wish into a true goal for me. If you...
Easy DIY Ideas for Your Home
As a real estate agent, I spent a lot of time looking at homes. There are so many things you can do to add some pizzazz to your home without spending a lot of money. Pinterest offers some great inspiration for DIYers. Here are 3 ways to make things for your home...
Buying Chairs Turns into a Trip to Indy
When I moved into my last house, I bought a travertine mosaic table with wrought iron legs to use as my kitchen table. I had an open floor plan and I wanted a table that didn't look like a kitchen table, and this table was perfect. It was pushed up against a wall so I...
Home Remodeling: Eliminate Ugly Tubs & Tile
In my day job as a real estate agent, I've seen lots of ugly home features. Some are easier to fix than others. One of my favorite fixes is to reglaze an old bathtub or tile. I've reglazed tubs in 2 of my prior homes. And I've helped several of my clients eliminate...
Kitchen Renovation Round 2
About a year before I sold my last house, I updated the kitchen. At the time, I wasn't planning on moving. I'm glad I wasn't, because I wasn't tempted to go with safe resale picks. Instead, I went bold with the backsplash and wall paint. It turned out great, and as it...
365 Daily Photo Project 2013 (Jan 1 – Jan 6)
UPDATE: After announcing that I was going to do the Project 365 and posting this one post here, and a number of pictures to Facebook, I realized that I'm not so good at doing anything every single day. Rather than forcing myself to be something I'm not, I've decided...
Downsizing and Craigslist
I'm moving. I've been thinking about it for a few years now, but was having a hard time justifying making the move since I really do love my house and it has everything I need. Actually, it has more than I need. I find myself spending all of my time in the open...
Netflix Movies – 20 Favorite Hidden Gems
After years of hearing people talk about Netflix, I finally decided to sign up earlier this year. I love movies, and in the 1990s I spent a lot of time browsing the shelves at the video stores renting movies. In the last 10 years, I haven't done that very often....
Starting Today
I don't know about you, but I have to be completely committed to something or there is really no point in even taking the first steps. I've tried bribing myself into exercising regularly, eating right and even blogging on a schedule. It just doesn't work for me. Only...
Family Vacations
We didn't take a lot of trips when I was a child, and most of them were when I was too young to remember much. My mom recently converted all of the old slides to digital pictures and gave me a bunch of childhood pictures, including a few from our family vacations. I...
Another Blogging Adventure
Costa Rico Vacation Welcome to my newest blogging adventure. Here's a quick introduction about who I am and what I currently intend this blog to become (no promises it won't evolve over time!). Who is Karen? My blogging adventures started when I left the security of...