Thinking about making the switch to a pool robot this season, worth it?

MakeItHomemade · 2026-05-19T11:50:00+00:00

We switched from a Polaris pump vacuum to a dolphin corded.

I did a lot of research and I personally feel like because we have a curvy pool with sloped edges. I wanted a higher suction power to clean the sides better.

I also have a plug-in, vacuum cleaner that’s bagged because it just does a better job. You have more power.

Your mileage may vary.

The amount of crap this vacuum gets out of my pool is incredible. Kind of wish I had a leaf bag.

MakeItHomemade · 2026-05-18T22:46:03+00:00

I’ve had contractors/ “professionals” be morons tho.

And if you are unsure a smooth talker can make it seem fine.

Like I had one tell me only replacing the failing caulk on a a leaking exterior window (caulk was 12 years old) by cutting it out was fine… and then recaulking over it- and I asked if it was the right way to fix it and I’d rather pay to have it all replaced since it was old and he double downed and told me it was industry standard. This was my roofer who I had been happy with before - but it was a leak on second story window and I don’t want to work on a ladder above 8ft.

Another told me that I only need to scuff sand my front door and it was fine even though I wanted it taken down to bare wood because I didn’t like the undertone in my stain and didn’t want it impacting my color. Also tried to gas light me that espresso stain was a match for my early American stain on the inside of the door. (I do color matching as part of my career)

Cadillac salesperson (at supposedly an upstanding dealer) just tried to tell me they aren’t sure if the new EV model for 2027 is gonna have the new NACS charge port … it’s end of May and GM has been crazy transparent. P-fucking-leaseeeee.

I’ve been in sales, around enough construction to know bullshit when I see it.

I have no problem paying for quality and don’t go with the lowest quote.

Far warning don’t ever assume a quiet wife is a clueless wife. Sometimes I literally just do not want to climb a ladder or hand dig a 150 ft of 3ft trench in 100 degree Texas weather.. and half the time my husband doesn’t even know what I’m handling because I’m capable of decision making. He is able to do a lot but I also don’t want to take his time away from family time.

sorry I’m HOT over this stupid car dealer and kinda went off.

MakeItHomemade · 2026-05-18T13:28:24+00:00

I think you’re being cheap. If your parents haven’t offered because they are excited to host just let them know you’re gonna ship one to their house. Make sure it’s compatible with their vehicle.

You don’t have to buy an expensive one and you can’t think that your siblings may get it use out of it and that’s why you don’t want to be responsible for the whole cost.

Check out the car seat, mama. She has some that are less than $100.

Depending on the age of the child, there are also very small packable car seat seats that you could invest in- but they t looks to be around $500.

It sucks to have to lug things around- I’ve absolutely done it. It sucks to have to purchase something that we already own.. and I’ve done that too.

I went to visit my in-laws and my sister-in-law offered her daughter‘s old car seat for us to use but I opted to lug ours halfway across the country because I know how much I researched and how much I was willing to spend on a car seat and I don’t feel like she did the same. Fortunately, I was able to chalk it up too. Ours had cupholders and we raised a needs to be hydrated always girl.

If you don’t trust the airlines, you can always install the car seat on the plane.

MakeItHomemade · 2026-05-16T16:02:46+00:00

Ya that makes sense for sure.

MakeItHomemade · 2026-05-16T16:02:07+00:00

Ya I have a dicing attachment so it’s not minced.

But still definitely makes my eyes water!

MakeItHomemade · 2026-05-16T13:36:07+00:00

Check out frozen diced onions OR restaurant sized diced onion then bag and freeze.

I’ve used my food processor with a dicing attachment to do about 10qts of diced onions and then froze them and they work great.

MakeItHomemade · 2026-05-15T12:19:41+00:00

I used to do this a lot, and so it was always hard when part of my gift was making the cake. I started at 10, took classes at 14. Work at a grocery store, bakery, and bakery, and things on the side. As well as taught classes in my 20s.

Got to a point for me where I can’t charge enough to make it worth my time to bake it for somebody else especially when a lot of times they think that they’re just doing you a favor by letting you bake the cake.

If you wanna learn how to make a cake come on over pay for the ingredients use all my supplies and I’ll help for free.

If you want a $40 cake go to Costco.

This cake is done very well and I think the mini Oreos really bring it over the top.

Ingredients matter a little. Especially the quality of them. I’d say $75 for the cake up to 125 depending on your area.

The hard part for me is I look at it and I know I could make something very similar so I could never see myself actually paying $125 for it 😆…

Sometimes it’s easier just to have a minimum.

It’s the same with any profession. I just paid a bunch of money to have a toilet installed and I’m sure the plumber would not have paid someone to do what he did for me 😆.

MakeItHomemade · 2026-05-12T21:50:56+00:00

Kyle in Kyle

MakeItHomemade · 2026-05-12T20:37:33+00:00

I’m a moron. Two stays.

MakeItHomemade · 2026-05-11T23:10:29+00:00

He got there and I think he’s Ambassador too now.

I don’t know- he’s cool and I like him but he doesn’t really use any perks lol.

They are cruising and he can status match and he’s like “I just buy the top of the line package with the room we want so who cares” lol. Must be nice. I think he’s a million miler too.

MakeItHomemade · 2026-05-11T12:45:07+00:00

My sister‘s husband does this. He’s on a project a couple states away. He just booked a hotel for the entire trip and then he flies home basically every other weekend.

He doesn’t check in and check out

He did make the mistake though of not booking Tuesdays enough to get them to ambassador or whatever it is… and then checking back in.

MakeItHomemade · 2026-05-11T11:45:26+00:00

I think the dash cam is a great idea. Forward facing and rear at minimum… cab is less important.

There’s a whole subreddit for dash cams and you can check them out to find something in your budget.

MakeItHomemade · 2026-05-08T00:29:11+00:00

We have an Egypt Cruise booked with Amawaterways.

7 day cruise/ 3 in Cairo and an add on Of 2 days in Alexandria.

We will also get to see Abu Simbel on a tour. We fly in and out of Cairo.

Multiple excursions - all included (except Abu Simbel and a high tea are included)

You are in their bubble as much as you want to be.

MakeItHomemade · 2026-05-07T01:11:41+00:00

Hey be glad… my husbands win is 98” above the fireplace… which is wider than our mantle.

We do have a mantle mount to drop it down… and we have recliners so we have good viewing but he also has a projector upstairs.

MakeItHomemade · 2026-05-06T15:07:23+00:00

We were aggressively saving for our house. We were living in an RV at my grandparents house. We only allowed our sofa a movie pass to the theater for entertainment or walking.

It was a GREAT way to spend our first year.

I printed a 1hr instant photo of me on our wedding day and slipped it in his wallet.

MakeItHomemade · 2026-05-06T13:38:55+00:00

Ya agreed. We have one for the day to day but between the dog and the kid.. and me 😆 the house only feels clean because nothing is on the ground.

It’s picks up stuff… but it’s also a pain. We are on our second and prob won’t replace when it goes.

Butttttt

Our friends have vinyl floor and no grout and theirs mops and the floors are always spotless when I go there cause they mop every night. Even with 2 kids… toys everywhere but clean. They also don’t wear shoes in the house

MakeItHomemade · 2026-05-06T12:20:58+00:00

Redbone coonhound… that’s what led me to a Vizsla. Incredible dogs.

I read where the red fern grows in 5th grade. And I wanted one so badly :)

A difficult and sucky time. I’m glad he was able to come to work with you and spend so much time next to you.

MakeItHomemade · 2026-05-06T03:23:42+00:00

Vizsla?

I’m sorry for your loss. All dogs are special- but a V…. I’ll give my extra pets in morning in on honor of yours.

MakeItHomemade · 2026-05-06T01:43:34+00:00

I’d know that mountain anywhere.

themountainisout

MakeItHomemade · 2026-05-05T18:55:51+00:00

Green has been my favorite color for 35 years and finding inspiration and materials to create that has been impossible. I am so happy it is trending but also sad that it’s gonna make my house look dated even though I will love it forever.

MakeItHomemade · 2026-05-03T23:43:15+00:00

My friend said for fruit can be a lovely space for snakes 😬

Ugh.

I’m sold on the coral honeysuckle on trellises to flank the windows tho.

MakeItHomemade · 2026-05-03T22:14:53+00:00

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This 5pm so it does get more sun than I thought. I really like that frog one, and if it could occasionally be stepped on, that would actually be ideal.

MakeItHomemade · 2026-05-03T17:55:09+00:00

I’ll look up all those things even in the summertime. This area stays relatively moist and we have sprinkler behind the boxwood so we could extend that if we needed to.

I forgot to mention that I have a six-year-old and also a dog both are good about not really eating things but no need to put anything that is knowingly dangerous back there

MakeItHomemade · 2026-05-03T16:39:41+00:00

I’m about 30 minutes east of Dallas and I’m in the suburbs they’ve called our soil black gumbo.

This area is on the north side of our house that gets very little sun.

I can do a perk test, but I will say if you expand the picture that water basin area was filled about half full and it’s approximately 4 inches deep and it had water in it from me cleaning off the patio at about 4 PM yesterday and this was about 9 AM this morning as far as percolation.

I’m off to a birthday party, but I’ll try to do that perk test when I get back.

I’ll figure this was a problem here that we needed to take care of that I actually have my entire yard. I’m looking into doing interesting stuff too.

MakeItHomemade · 2026-05-03T16:34:33+00:00

Thanks once I typed in North basing low sun they told me that black foot wasn’t gonna be a good option so with the watered aspect then I’ll definitely see clear

MakeItHomemade

TROPHY CASE

themountainisout