Tag: home

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Christmas Blues

I get them every year, those darn Christmas blues, but this year it seems worse than others.  I want so much for my children and I don’t just mean ‘stuff’.  I want a real home.  I want a real family life.  I want a real chance to be a better Mom than I have been.

Why is it that this time of year I go through this?  I guess it’s because we look into the eyes of these innocent children and see the wonder of life and Christmas glowing in them. Then we go look in the mirror and see the disenchantment in our own eyes knowing that the world is not a box of cherries. I don’t know about you but I long for that love and innocence again and want it to stay in my children’s eyes.

I know that a time will come when they don’t believe in Santa anymore or the magic of Christmas but I just don’t want them to look through the eyes of disenchantment at me ever.  I want them to always see the wonder of a world of possibilities for them.

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Things that Should be Kept in a Fireproof Safe

While there are many efforts that you can take in order to protect your home from fire, there is always a chance that a fire can break out, no matter what preventative methods you have taken. Just look at the recent wildfires in California. Countless people have lost their homes and the valuables that were inside to these fires, and it was completely beyond their control.

While you may not be able to completely protect your home from fire, you can protect some of your valuables. If you live in or around Portland, safes Portland Oregon are the best way to secure your most precious items from fire.

While you may wish that you could put the contents of your entire home into a fireproof safe, unfortunately, you can’t; but what items should you put in a fireproof safe? Keep on reading to find out.

Essential Items to Keep in a Fireproof Safe

What items are a must to keep in a fireproof safe? Here’s a look at some of the things that you are definitely going to want to keep in this protective piece of equipment.

Insurance policies. You are definitely going to want to keep all of your current insurance policies in a fireproof safe. This includes any and all home insurance policies, as well as life insurance policies. These are extremely valuable and should they be damaged, it can be difficult to get new ones.

Birth certificates. You are also going to want to keep all birth certificates in a fireproof safe. This includes yours, your spouses and the birth certificates of your children. If these are damaged, you will never be able to get an original again.

Social security cards. Along with birth certificates, you should also keep social security cards in a fireproof safe. Should they be damaged in a fire, they can also be difficult to replace.

Passports. A passport is a valuable piece of identification, and it is also a memento that many people like to hold onto. Keep it protected from fire by keeping it in a fireproof safe.

Important legal documents. If you have any important documents, such as documents that illustrate power of attorney, living wills, health care proxies, you are going to want to store them in your fireproof safe.

Keep these valuable items protected from fire by storing them in a fireproof safe.

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Need a new guitar bag

guitar bag (free clip art)
guitar bag (free clip art)

I am so angry at Shawn’s dog right now I could just scream! I have asked Shawn repeatedly to not let that dog roam around the house un-supervised when I am not at home. Do you think he would listen to me and honor my request? Yeah, right! That stupid dog has chewed up my guitar bag, so now I need to go online to see MF and try to get a new one delivered by the weekend. I don’t have the time to run into town to pick one up. I’m going to make Shawn pay for the new bag and the expedited delivery charge, too! I guess I should just be glad that the stupid dog didn’t ruin the guitar, too!

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Visiting my grandparents

I used to love to visit my grandparents house when I was a child. They had the most beautiful old grandfather clock I had ever seen. I loved to hear it chime. In fact, as a child, I would run into the sitting room where the grandfather clock was when it would start chiming just so I could hear it better. I loved that clock. My parents now have it and it will be mine to keep in my home when they are gone which I hope will be many years from now.

 

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Maintain your septic system to avoid problems

In the small town of Seaford Delaware, there is a lot of rural areas. Many people have septic systems rather than city sewage. For those who do, it is important to know how to keep your septic system up and know the signs of trouble you may encounter. There are four ” Red Flags” that you should be aware of that could spell trouble for your system.

  • If you haven’t had your septic tank cleaned or inspected in two to three years, you could have a problem and be unaware of it.
  • If you have standing water or mushy areas in your yard, then your drain field is not draining properly
  • Backed up or slow toilets are a clear sign that you probably need to have the tank drained
  • That “nasty” smell you cannot identify is probably your septic overflowing or backing up.

If you haven’t had your septic inspected, or have noticed any of these problem areas, then you need to look up seaford septic tank cleaning and take care of this right away. There are many companies to choose from, and you can get estimates over the phone most of the time. Occasionally, they will want to look and then let you know what you are dealing with.

There are ways to keep your tank in good “health” with a few simple products that will keep it from clogging or backing up. You can start with the simplest product available. A product with bacteria or yeast is safe for your system and will help keep if clear longer. Do NOT use chemical additives as they can damage your tank and/or your lines, this goes as well for chemical clog removers. Hot water or a drain snake are the best things to use to clear a clog from your pipes.

There are two different kinds of filters that can help keep your tank in good health. One is a filter that attaches to the drain line of your washing machine. This will help keep lint from getting into the septic tank and clogging it up. The filter should be cleaned at regular intervals. You can also put a filter on the exit side of the tank. This will keep solid material from getting into your drain field. You can also use a different kind of bleach, called oxygen bleach to help keep food and dirt from getting into your tank. All of these products are available at your local Seaford stores.

There are certain jobs that you should not attempt to tackle on your own as you well know. You don’t attempt to fix electrical problems, especially those anywhere near the main breaker box. You don’t take on major plumbing problems and you should NEVER try to repair or clean your septic tank yourself. The gases inside a septic tank are highly toxic and can kill you very quickly. A professional should always be consulted for any septic system work that needs to be done. Regular maintenance and inspections will keep your system healthy so you won’t have any problems arise.

 

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Landscaping is the final touch

You have decorated or remodeled the interior of your house, spruced up the exterior of it, but still have one thing left to do to be truly satisfied. Landscaping your yard to make it a showplace of it’s own and compliment the house as well. It takes a lot of research to figure out just exactly will look good in your yard with the given space you have to work with. Some people know exactly what they want, while others haven’t a clue. Make sure to clean up your yard of all the stuff that needs storage first. You might want to invest in a garden shed for this if you don’t already have one. You yard will look much better without all that clutter and leave you with the space to do your landscaping.

Choices

Figure out where you want your paths and the general layout. Keep in mind that this may change slightly as you do the landscaping as well. Choose your plants and flowers with an eye towards color all year long, not just for the spring time. Many plants and trees bloom a various times of the year and if you choose the right ones, you will have lots of color in your yard year round. If you plant in groups so that it looks more natural, you will have a much better looking yard. Nature is the best blueprint you can use.

Flowers

Buy flowers that will bloom each year and not have to be replaced like perennials, certain shrubs and vines. There are also bulbs that you can plant in the fall, that will come up at spring time and you will have a sudden burst of color. Iris, tulip and daffodil bulbs can be planted in the fall and have this effect. You may want to choose flowers that will attract hummingbirds or butterfly’s. Morning glory’s, Bee balm, and verbena will attract both hummingbirds and butterflies to your yard and garden.

Trees

Trees can be a great addition to your yard and also double to shade the house during those summer months. Fruit producing trees, such as Apple Trees, Cherry Trees and such are always a plus. They look great and give you fruit as well. Flowering trees like the Magnolia and Dogwood trees are undeniably beautiful, your spring and summer yard will have blooming trees that seem to last and last. Evergreen trees that never lose their color are great for winter color.

Rocks and Pots

You can add to your landscaping, with large pots and rocks or boulders. Large pots (not small ones) are as important as what goes in them. They can be pricey but are a good investment and will look amazing. Rocks are best found in your area. Most times you won’t even have to pay for them if you ask around to see where you might locate construction sites. You can also go to a quarry and buy them cheaper then you can from your local hardware store.

 

 

 

 

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Selling a home can be difficult

Selling a home can be a difficult prospect. Attracting potential buyers takes a little bit of work, some of it yours and sometimes from a professional. Take a good look at the exterior of your home and use a critical eye. Figure out what you like and don’t like about your homes exterior so that you know what changes need to be made. Also make sure to note anything that is worn or broken, so that they can be repaired or replaced.

You can get rid of mold and mildew by using a pump spray bottle with a mixture of bleach and water. Saturate the area and then pressure wash the exterior of your home to make sure that it and any dirt are all removed.  AJ’s Windows and Gutters can help you fix or replace those windows and gutters that need help.  AJ’s Windows and Gutters in Chicago will wash all the windows, repair screens and storm doors as well as repair or install gutters and down spouts. They can also do the pressure washing as well, if you do not want to do it yourself.

Cleaning up your yard by mowing, weeding and raking will make a tremendous improvement if you haven’t already done it. This should be maintained throughout your entire process of selling your home. Don’t over do it with lawn decorations either. You wouldn’t want the yard to look cluttered. Many buyers will do drive bys to see the exterior of the home after work. Some lights along the walk or driveway will make it look really good in the dark or fading light. Don’t forget your backyard as well. It should be neat as a pin so that potential buyers get a good impression.

After you have pressure washed the house, you may find that a coat of paint is necessary as well. A new door can make the front of your home look great, but if you cannot afford the cost of one, a little paint and a new door knob and lock will make it look much better. You may have to sand it down really good first if it has any pits or scratches.

If you have made any improvements to your home, like additions, extensions or renovations, those will definitely help you to sell the home and make sure that the value of your home is up. Be sure that those renovations were done correctly, because poorly done ones will make the house look ratty. You may want to clean out the closets attic and garage. Investing in a storage unit for those things that you don’t want to get rid of. Buyers want to be able to see how much space is in your home and it shouldn’t be cluttered.

One last thing, when you have your home on the market, sometimes a realtor will call last minute to show your home. Be careful what you cook. Strong odors can be a big turn off especially fish, cabbage and such. Use air fresheners regularly to keep your home smelling clean and fresh.

 

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Venetian masks

Women love to decorate, at least most women do. It is a passion we all share when it comes to making our house a home. Finding new and unique ways to make our home look amazing is a task that can be very daunting. Whether it is because of money, time or just indecision, this process can sometimes take a while. Here are a few ideas to help you decorate your home with style.

Some people like to use a theme for their decorating style. These can be great so long as you go for something really unique and not something that has been done over and over by everyone you know. The Venetian Mask Society has a great theme that is not seen a lot. Hanging a varied assortment of masks on your walls will give you some really great pieces to talk about when friends visit.

If your budget doesn’t allow for any extravagant expenses, you can always use some of these cheap decorating ideas to make your changes and still be happy with it.

  • Painting the space you want to change can make a drastic difference.
  • New lighting can change the ambiance in the room
  • Throw rugs or area rugs can help make a room look more comfortable.
  • Add a few plants or flowers
  • Rearrange the furniture to make for a better or at least new room.
  • Organize your clutter and get rid of anything that just lays around.
  • Use bold colors to accentuate

 

 

 

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Moving home

Yay! My childhood friend Kristy is moving back home from Salt Lake City. She moved there after high school to attend college and decided to stay, because she like it there so much. Now though, she really misses her parents and is about to have her first child, so she is coming home. She is an only child and her parents have been asking her to come back for a while now. I guess she finally caved in about it since her parents are too old to make a move there. Fortunately her in-laws are all actually here in the east as well, so they will be happy about it too.

The moverssaltlakecity.com people are going to take care of everything for her as she can’t really do anything because she is so far into her pregnancy. I can’t wait till she gets here. A few friends and I are going to help her organize her house once everything arrives, so she doesn’t have to do it all by herself. I know her mother will try to help too, but as I mentioned before she is elderly and we don’t want her to over do it. Kristy was a late in life baby, in case you can’t tell.

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Home energy audit

If you are looking for home improvement grants, I have just the place for you to go. They can help you solve your energy efficiency problems as well. The home energy team is by far the best that there is. They were able to help me bring my energy bill down by over a hundred dollars a month. That is amazing considering the cost of energy these days. The months that are the worst are middle winter and middle summer, when we run the heater and air conditioner the most.

A Home energy audit can help you bring those costs down considerably. When I had mine done, they found leaks around my windows and insufficient insulation were my two main problems. I was able to get help fixing these problems and have been so happy ever since. My house stays nice and warm in the winter and cool in the hottest summer months. It is the best thing I could have done for my home.