Category: Home Improvement

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Baby Spiders

Recently I inherited some baby spider plants. I have always wanted spider plants in my house. They are just so unique looking!  At first I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with these gorgeous specimens. I have a green and white striped one and a solid green one.

Then one morning I woke up and while I was enjoying my morning cup of chai tea I spotted the perfect location for these plants to live. My large picture window will be their new homes.

Tomorrow I shall march down to the local hardware store and purchase a couple of plant hangers for the wall. I can then hang one plant up on each end of the window and the mixture and light and shade should be just right. These plants do not like bright sunlight all day.

If they receive this then they have a chance of burning. While I am at the hardware store I will also pick up matching pots. I can’t wait to put this project together. They are going to look fabulous!

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Green Printing

Companies all over the world are jumping on the green bandwagon. Green printing is one of those as well. Printing companies are worried about their impact on the world just like everyone else. This is a really good thing because it is our responsibility to make sure that we preserve our environment for future generations.

There are all kinds of green products and services out there in today’s world. There are cleaning products that are green, as well as, everyday things that we use. Plastic bottles, toilet paper, news paper and many more are made from recycled products. This helps keep a lot of waste out of the land fills. Do your part and recycle too.

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Flower Care

This year was pretty much a disaster as far as my back yard. Usually I would be reaping the rewards of a small backyard garden and giving extra produce to friends, neighbors, family and co workers. Between the weather being crazy and my lack of interest and energy this year, it just didn’t work out.

I did manage to get a few tomato plants that are producing although usually there are plenty of red ones on the vine by now. But they are taking their time in ripening. It is actually a bit better for me because I can only use and give so many tomatoes in the first week of August.

This year’s month August is being call Autumn in August, even some of the bushes and trees are totally confused at to what time of the year it is. There has been several mornings that I have gone outside, the wind is blowing and it’s overcast, that I have witnessed a good amount of leaves on the ground as well a a bunch of leaves being tossed around in the cool breeze.

I think I will back off on some of the food items in the garden next year. A nice break from this yearly chore. I would love to start planting some nicer plants and buses around the yard.

I have all winter to learn what I need to know and do for caring for orchids and all the other beautiful and colorful flowers that I am looking forward to tend to next spring and summer. I can’t wait to start getting all the seeds and flower catalogs that I always find in my mailbox right before the up and coming spring plantings.

In the mean time I’ll be looking around online to do a bit of research which will make all the decisions as an educated consumer.

 

 

 

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Heat

This year I don’t have to guess what to purchase to give to my dad on Father’s Day. I have already found a great website with an awesome selection of Heat Guns, Soldering Irons and Hot Knives to pick from to order for him. Now I just have to decide on which one to actually purchase. Father’s Day is only a few short weeks away so I better hurry up and pick one. I’m sure he would love any of them.

Heat
Hot Knife Cutters and Heat Guns
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Durham Air Conditioning

The days that I could call my kid brother for my heating and/or air conditioning issues are unfortunately long gone. He discovered that he has a real talent with computers and he hasn’t had anything to do with anything else since.

So on the down side I have to locate and hire my own Durham air conditioning service when I need help. On the other hand I can always count on him to help me with my computers!

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Fix it up

Over the last few years the furniture in my home has become very out dated and stale, to help remedy this situation I had begun looking for some Modern Furniture to replace my old stuff. The main thing I want this new furniture to do is help liven up my living room and the dining room. The very best selection that I have found so far is the modern furniture located at Modern Line Furniture.

Modern Line Furniture has a grand selection and their pris so far has beat any of the local furniture stores I have checked out. I was really looking at the very unique leather sectional sofas, I think a nice leather sectional sofa would light up my living room and would go very nicely with the dining room table I have picked out. I really like the clean look of the modern furniture found on the web site for Modern Line Furniture and it will fit so very nicely in my home and it will be a very lovely addition to my home.

I can not wait to see how this new modern furniture looks in my home, I think I will throw a party when it get delivered just to show off my new modern furniture.

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Diffusers

I love the new Expressions look. I can take the wrappers off of the spray bottles and leave them out, and you can’t really tell right away that it is a spray can. The different user looks really good sitting on the table as opposed to a plug in stuck in the wall. The Starlit Evening fragrance is my favorite for now, but I have so many to try yet.

I am going back to Walmart next week when I do the grocery shopping and see what others I can try. One of the best parts is that it helps significantly with the smell of the dogs when they come in from the outdoors. I am always trying to get rid of the dog smell in the house and this makes it much easier.

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Remodeling Is Costly

Just because someone owns their own home, doesn’t mean they have credit cards. Many people get rid of their credit cards after they pay down their debt, only to find out that they might need them again to do renovations or remodeling on their home. Now they have to go back and apply for a card that will suit their needs. If they weren’t happy with the cards they had before, researching the new cards that are available now is the smart thing to do.

Once you make the decision to apply for a credit card, you need to know your credit score. Free credit score.com can help you with that in just a short amount of time. The best credit cards to apply for, are the ones that are compatible with your lifestyle. For instance, if you don’t travel a lot, you wont need a frequent flyer miles card.

Rewards cards are really great for people who make large purchases. If you are remodeling or renovating your home, you will be making large purchases and the rewards would be worth you having one of these cards, especially if you are going to be doing a DIY renovation/remodel. Since DIY typically takes longer then having a professional come in, your purchases will not be all at once.

However, if you have decided that you don’t have to time for a DIY job, and are going to hire someone to do it, then you might want a low interest rate or balance transfer card. Don’t get stuck with too many cards. If you have a lot of credit cards, you can end up in a lot of debt if you are not careful. Using a balance transfer card can help you consolidate all of your debt to one low rate card, but you have to read the fine print.

Of course there are other ways to pay for your renovation. You can use the home’s equity to pay for the upkeep, take a personal loan or just use cash. This however, can create a lot of paperwork in the case of the first two and who honestly has that much cash on hand to use. You can use online tools to keep track of your budget or an online debt reduction calculator to test out your finances first and see if what you have planned is feasible. Make sure to research fully before committing yourself to whatever card you apply for.

Take your time with finding a credit card and if the rewards are worth it. That renovation may wait a little longer if you need it to. Also, don’t over extend yourself. Be sure that you can afford to do that remodel before you begin it. The last thing you want is to get halfway through it and run out of cash and credit to do it. Then you will be stuck in home that is only half finished. You don’t have to have the most expensive items to have your home look good. Moderation is always a good thing when working with a budget.

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Renovations DIY

When you decide to renovate your home, it is a big decision and there are a lot of ramifications. First you have to decide what part of your home you are going to renovate and measure the dimensions of the rooms, doors and windows. DIY renovations take a bit longer then your typical pro job, so it is usually best to do it in sections if you are doing the entire house. Begin with one end of the house and move through as each project is finished. In this way you are not living with a massive mess and most projects can be finished within a weekend.

Funding your renovation is very important as well. You want to make sure that you have all of the funds you need before you start ordering you supplies. At this point you know what you want, have everything picked out and priced. Allow for a little extra just in case you forgot something. Tools are really important, whether it be hand tools or a good budget calculator online, they are imperative to have. It’s always good to have your credit card to back you up just in case. The best credit cards have rewards for large purchases and you can use those to your advantage.

Everyone knows that places like Home Depot and Lowes are the the place to go for all your DIY needs. They have great programs to teach you how to do the work yourself, with professional results. Any questions you have can be easily answered by the personnel at either location. They are trained well to make sure they have the right answers.

If you are going do a kitchen, a DIY renovation may take a little longer, but don’t get discouraged. If you plan it out right, you can have it done in a short amount of time. You only have to make sure that you have all of your supplies on hand and ready to go. Cabinets, stove, sink, refrigerator etc…all need to be there when you START the job. Having  a check list of everything as well as knowing exactly what order you need to do your work is paramount.

Some jobs require permits. If you have the knowledge base and can prove it, you can get the permit yourself, although sometimes a professional is needed. Major electrical, plumbing and additions are a definite permit job. Particularly additions. Because certain electrical and/or plumbing is required for additions, you will need permits. Some you can obtain yourself and some have to be done through a licensed contractor. Your research for whatever job you need done will tell you that. Talk to the local permit office to see what you need.

Enjoy the work. From the designing phase to the actual work. Working with your hands can bring a certain satisfaction unlike no other. When guests come to your home, you can have the added pleasure of telling them that you did the work yourself. Your hard work will pay off.

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More Thoughts On Gardening

So you want to build a pond in your garden? There is a right way and a wrong way to go about it. First you have to pick the area in your yard that you want to build it. In order to do that, you have to know where all of the underground utility pipes are located. Whether it is water, electrical or cable, you don’t want to hit any of them when you start digging. You utility companies will be happy to come out and mark the locations to prevent any mishaps.

Next you want to decide how large you want the pond and make sure it is not near a lot of trees. The leaves will clog it up and make a lot of extra work for you. An average pond is two to three feet deep, unless you plan to put Koi in it, then it will need to be three to four feet deep. Even if you decide against the Koi, it is always best to make sure you have running water to keep the mosquito population down. A simple pond pump will help ensure that the water is always moving. A few gold fish wouldn’t hurt either, as they will eat the mosquito larvae.

Now comes the time to go get your supplies. You can buy either a preformed or flexible liner for your pond. A flexible one allows you to determine the shape and size and are relatively easy to work with. You can build your pond with common garden tools, there is really no need to have heavy machinery, unless it is going to be a really large pond. You will also need sand to spread around before you put down your liner. This prevents tears from happening due to rocks and roots. Just spread it evenly and as thick as you can to be safe.

Make sure you get the rocks you need to line around the outside and to build a waterfall should you decide you want one. Most hardware store will deliver them, so you shouldn’t need a truck. Don’t forget your water plants and decorative plants for around the pond either.

Not everyone has a yard or the space to build a pond. However, do not be discouraged, because you can still have a water garden by using a sealed decorative container. Just put rocks on the bottom and choose what water plants you would like to have. Once again, you will have to do something to prevent mosquito’s, even if it is only a small water garden. They will breed in any standing water. Either the water has to move, or you need gold fish or something to kill the larvae.

A pond can bring a lot of joy to you and your family. They are very calming and soothing to sit next to after a hard day at work. Especially those with the gentle sounds of water flowing over rocks. It is amazing how relaxed you will be when you can enjoy it at the end of the day.