I picked up a pair of Seavees Hermosa Plimsoll shoes for summer because I was looking for a Vans-type shoe that wasn't actually a pair of Vans. Sadly my skateboarding skills ain't what they used to be and I'm old :(

Anyway, since this is apparently turning into a shoe review blog, I felt compelled to write about these great minimalist old school style sneakers.

I love these shoes. I want a second pair as a matter of fact. The thing I really appreciate about them is that they haven't given my feet any blisters despite wearing them barefoot in a variety of conditions. They are comfortable as hell from day 1 and only seem to get better with age.

The material is some kind of canvas top, not unlike a pair of old Keds if I had to make a comparison. Sole is comfy and durable and I've already gotten some compliments that I think were sincere? So that's good.

If you're looking for a quality pair of classic everyday walking shoes that won't break the bank, look no further. Highly recommended casual summer shoes that will always look good.

​Task lighting provides a direct beam of light to areas above kitchen sinks and to food preparation and cleanup centers. Lighting is equally important in a bathroom setting. Install the task fixtures in front of where you will be working to avoid shadows. Many types of fixtures, including recessed down lights, track lights, hanging pendent lights, and under-cabinet strip lights, provide excellent task lighting. It's best to have the lighting for each work center controlled by its own separate wall switch.

How much task lighting do you need during a kitchen or bathroom remodel? Each work center should be illuminated with either 100 to 150 watts of incandescent light or 40 to 50 watts of fluorescent light. What about under cabinet light? To light countertops that have cabinets overhead, strip lighting is needed. These fixtures have a thin profile and are almost hidden. As a general rule, a fluorescent tube should extend along approximately two-thirds of the counter it is illuminating and provide about 8 watts of power per foot of counter space.

Natural lighting - Maximizing the available natural light is a critical element in most kitchen and bathroom design plans.  Consider adding windows or French doors or perhaps a skylight. If you are the primary cook and spend many hours preparing meals, you might enjoy a large, cheery window above the sink. Windows also provide fresh air, which eliminate heat from the area.

There are ways to increase natural lighting even if you don't have additional wall space to dedicate to windows. Consider replacing existing windows with taller units or add an additional fixed, arch-top window over an existing window. Remember though, that additional lighting can also mean more heat in summer, especially in Texas!

I got me a fancy little Nike gift card for Christmas and decided to invest it in a pair of, wait for it, shoes. Yes, shoes! And not just any new shoes. NIKES. And not just any NIKES, but the swanky new Flyknit Racers that many marathoners and actual runners swear by.

This is a phenomenal shoe. And I am by no means an expert, but the Flyknit Racer might be the lightest shoe I've ever worn. The fit is also fantastic - Nikes tend to run a little small and narrow but I had no problems ordering at Nike.com. If fit is a concern, however, it would be wise to go to a Nike outlet and get a proper measurement.

The cushion on these things is also fantastic, especially relative to how almost-non-existent the weight is. Again, the real "game changer" here is the weight of these great running shoes. Easily worth trying on if you have any interest in running. How they hold up under extreme conditions is anyone's guess. But out of the box? An amazing and durable shoe.

A few new projects I'll be working on includes branding for:

A1 Soapstone Countertops - owned by my associate Aloys, they specialize in what their name suggests. 

Little Elm Tree Trimming - owner Geoff G. is starting a new tree and landscaping company that handles the far north Texas area.

These are three new referrals that will hopefully be expanded out in the coming months.

My lawyer friend let me know about some interesting advice that I figured I would pass along to fellow Texas residents. Crowdfunding is coming to the Lone Star State...

Huh?

That was my response, too. Then I did some digging and it made sense.

So what is crowdfunding, exactly? I'll try to explain in layman's terms....

As best described by one business portal that is set to help with the process, new rules have allowed any average joe investor to get in on funding startups and other business ideas.

As an example, a restaurant wants to sell a 10% equity in their company to raise money to buy new patio furniture. Previously, this would be a very convoluted process (involving well-connected heavy hitting investors only, in most cases) that most people wouldn't have a chance to get involved in.

New crowdfunding rules change that. Much in the same way a band can raise money via Kickstarter to buy a new van for their tour, people will be able to invest in new business ideas and other investments.

This is interesting for a number of reasons and should open up a wave of new business opportunities that were not possible up until now. It allows the common man to become a "VC" or "angel investor" in a way. Again - terms that were not possible for 98% of the population until recently.

Basically, via a business portal such as the afore-mentioned Lone Star Crowdfunding - investors connect with entrepreneurs selling stock in their ideas. If my understanding is correct.

Are there limits? Yes, but they aren't restrictive. New businesses can raise up to $1 million a year from the public. Not too shabby.

I've probably butchered it a little but that's the general gist. It's an exciting new era for business development in Texas, thanks to new regulations that will come into play in 2015.

My friend (and fellow fantasy football player) owns Rakestraw Fence and Rustic Furniture - a niche business in the North Dallas area - and after months of putting it off, I finally got around to commissioning him to build me something custom for my living room.

I've known the owner for well over a decade now and he's always been handy and creative. His business started out as a fence repair site in his neighborhood but his flair for building quality furniture took on a life of its own and that soon became his main focus.

Anyway, I'll be adding pics shortly but the wine rack he created for me, complete with Texas flag branding, looks amazing and I've already gotten compliments on Facebook. It holds 6 bottles of wine, takes up minimal space and even has a slot to hold wine glasses. How cool is that? Very!

I try to support local businesses whenever possible and this is a keeper for sure. If you are looking for something cool to give your spouse or family this Christmas, check them out and see what they can do for you. You'd be surprised at what they can build and you are limited only by your imagination. Happy holidays!

I was referred to personal injury lawyer Michael M. Guerra recently to help him with his new propane explosion website. Mr. Guerra is busy as it is in the McAllen, TX and San Antonio areas, handling all manner of injury claims, and wanted to focus on helping victims of faulty propane tanks in their RVs.

I know what you're thinking, and I had no idea either - how many people get hurt each year in a propane explosion? Apparently, thousands. Michael is one of the leading experts on the subject in America and has written extensively about the dangers of faulty propane tanks in RVs and campers.

While this is definitely a niche area of law, if thousands of people are hurt each year in these type of accidents, there's definitely a need for a qualified injury lawyer to help. That's where Michael comes in. He knows the courts and handles cases nationwide. 

I will be doing consulting on his website over the next year and look forward to working with him. Since this is a nationwide campaign, I plan to employ a variety of methods to assist him.

The adidas Energy Boost 2.0 is probably the most comfortable shoe I've ever worn. They will run you $160+ but you get what you pay for. Also, consider you're either in bed or in a pair of shoes 90% of your life, so it's not a bad idea to invest in a good pair of running shoes.

I was given all the pertinent contact information for a mutual friend, Steve at S and L Mobile Mechanics, just in case my car ever found itself in some trouble. I'm paranoid about being stranded on the side of the road after having it happen a few times driving across Texas while in school. When a car breaks down on the side of the road, it's a mess because you have to pay a towing company in addition to getting work done to get your car running again. Not a fun situation.

I know several people who have used S and L Mobile Mechanics and it's always good to have a reliable repair company in your phone for such a situation, especially if you find yourself in the Fort Worth area. Since they are based in Euless, they can cover both Dallas and Fort Worth, but prefer to stick mostly on the west side of the mid cities.

Anyway, I ended up needing Steve's help when I was over at the Fort Worth Stockyards this past weekend for an event. Turns out, my timing belt had snapped and I needed a new one. Steve was a lifesaver because not only did he show up in a flash, but he had all the parts and was able to get me back on the road without having to call a tow truck. If that's not good service, I don't know what is. These guys are definitely a company to add to your rolodex just in case you ever find yourself stranded on the side of the road with a forlorn look on your face.

In "The Wolf of Wall Street", we see two scenes involving the standard "sell me this pen" question that often comes up in job interviews for sales positions. In the first scene, at a diner, the answer is a matter of creating scarcity. "Write your name on a sheet of paper - oh you don't have a pen? Here you go." is assumed to be the correct answer from one of Belfort's cohorts.

At the end of the movie, we see a sales conference in New Zealand where Belfort goes around the room asking newbie/aspiring sales professionals the same question. "Sell me this pen."

Of course, no one in the crowd gets it right. They ramble on nervously about how great the pen is, how you can write upside down, etc. So what exactly is the correct way to answer this open-ended question if it comes up in your next job interview?

First, this question IS too open-ended. You can't sell a pen (or anything) unless you ask questions. If an interviewer asks you to sell him this pen, the correct answer would be something like:

"First, I have no idea the context in which you are asking me this. How long have you been in the market for a pen? What type of pen do you typically use? Etc." 

You need to be asking questions to qualify. Otherwise you may be selling something to someone who doesn't need it. This IS THE CORRECT RESPONSE. No matter what. Any interviewer with half a brain will understand this. If they don't, you're probably interviewing at the wrong company. Without understanding the context, it's impossible to sell anything.

Yes, it's an open-ended question. So ask questions of your own to figure out if the hypothetical buyer (the interviewer) even needs the pen. And what he looks for in a pen. And how often he uses a pen. It's that simple. Sales is about asking questions.