Do You Know These Three Simple Secrets To A Comfortable Home?

June 28, 2017 Leave a Comment

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When it comes to their homes, people often want different things. After all, some people want their homes to be rustic and charming, while others want a classic, elegant, minimalist approach to the way that it’s designed. But if there’s one thing that absolutely everyone agrees on it’s that they want their homes to be comfortable. After all, your home is the place you come back to after a hard day at work. You want to be able to relax and let the stress of everyday life melt away as soon as you get through the door, and if your home isn’t comfortable, that’s going to be pretty difficult. Luckily, making your home more comfortable isn’t a challenging as you might think, you just need to know where to start. Here are three simple secrets to a more comfortable home.

 

Warmth

 

Keeping your home warm is one of those things that a lot of people tend to take for granted. Especially considering the fact that it’s something that you don’t really have to worry about for at least half of the year. But when the weather starts to turn cold it’s incredibly important that you can keep your home from becoming one large ice cube! The first place to look is the windows. A company like Renewal by Andersen window replacement can help you outfit your home with double glazed windows that can keep heat in incredibly well. Try not to rely too heavily on your central heating since you can end up racking up a pretty hefty bill that way. If you can set it to turn on first thing in the morning and just because before you get home, each for a couple of hours. That way you’ll always feel warm and comfortable when you need it most.

 

Flow

 

The flow of your home is often quite a confusing, nebulous concept which makes it kind of hard to pin down. Because of that, it’s often much easier to identify when a room doesn’t flow properly than when it does. A house that flows well often feels very light and gives you room to breathe, while poor flow can make your home feel cramped and unpleasant to be in. You have to take a bunch of different things into account when comes to the flow of your home. Everything from light sources to the layout of the building itself. One of the best things to do is simply walk from room to room. If you feel like you’re hitting interruptions, then that could be an issue with the flow of your home.

 

Keep it tidy
This might sound ridiculously simple, but it’s something that far too many people forget. It’s much harder to really feel relaxed when you’re surrounded by mess. It’s incredibly easy to let things pile up over time so make sure that you’re tidying your house as you go and not letting things build up. It’s far easier to keep a house tidy than it is to clean the whole thing, and it will make you feel that much more comfortable.

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Which Home Tasks Should You Never DIY?

June 15, 2017 Leave a Comment

Home maintenance is one of the dullest things on the planet. It’s a lot of work and effort, all for the sake of returning something to the state it ideally would have already been in. It’s one thing to embark on home projects that are going to improve your home, but it’s quite another to waste an afternoon just returning things to normal.

 

What is possibly worse is the idea of having to spend money on home maintenance. It’s bad enough that it’s boring, but when it actually costs money? Money you could otherwise spend on literally anything else, because it’d probably be more entertaining? It’s not tempting.

 

Maybe that’s why so many people pick up a drill, watch a few YouTube videos, and then proceed to throw themselves into a task they really don’t understand. There’s nothing wrong with the effort itself; wanting to be competent at DIY is fairly necessary if you’re going to run a house without spending a fortune on repairs.

 

However… there are some things you really should leave to the pros. For example…

 

Are You An Electrician? If Not, Electrics Aren’t For You

 

There’s pretty much nothing in the home that will kill you dead with the speed and force of electricity. Go poking where you don’t understand and the results could be catastrophic. Yet for some reason, people still throw themselves into big electric tasks like rewiring or installing complex new light fittings.

 

There is a tendency for people to think that if they turn the electrics off while they do the work, then there’s no possible harm. That might be the case in the short term, but what about the medium and long term? Turning the electrics off in the moment isn’t going to prevent faulty wiring from causing a fire in the future.

 

No Plumbing Qualification? Then No Pipes For You

 

Plumbing doesn’t have the same immediate threat that working with electricity can have, but it can still be catastrophic. This is especially true if you do anything with the water heater; the mishandling of which could easily result in carbon monoxide poisoning for the whole family. Some people do still charge in there, though; determined to fix faults with water pumps or to valves, sure that it’s only a small job so why should they pay someone to do it?

 

There’s a reason people have to train to handle gas safely – because it’s dangerous. No matter how easy the job sounds, going near your water heater is a job you should definitely skip.

 

Not A Roofer? Then Stay On Ground Level

 

Finally, another one for the immediate threat file. If you’re not used to working with heights, then barrelling in to fix that leaking tile could be potentially catastrophic. Even the professionals – with all their years of expertise – have a shockingly high number of falls and deaths as a result of falling from roofs.

 

Of course, you want your home to tick over as it should – but you should definitely prioritize keeping yourself alive and well above all else.

 

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4 Home Repairs You Should NEVER Put Off

June 7, 2017 Leave a Comment

I know how you feel: tired! Sometimes, the thought of coming home and relaxing is a lot more exciting than working on the house. So, we think of all the excuses under the sun to put it off until a later date. When the repairs center on painting the walls, there is nothing wrong with procrastinating. However, postponing your duties is the enemy when the repairs are a big deal. What, you’re not sure what constitutes a major concern and what doesn’t? Don’t worry because here are the four most important ones to keep in mind.

 

#1: Roof Repairs

 

There are two basic thing homeowners want from a house. The first is a bed to sleep in, and the second is a roof overhead. If the roof isn’t in good shape, the fundamentals of the property are in question. That might not worry you now, but it will when the rain drips on your head at night! See, according to http://www.triumphroofing.net even minor issues can escalate out of control. So, before you know it, one loose slate might lead to a hole in the roof. Apart from providing shelter from the elements, it will also save you a fortune.

Link

 

#2: Dryer Lint

 

How on earth is lint from clothes a major repair? Well, it isn’t the lint itself, but what the buildup of lint represents. Simply put, a blockage can lead to a fire. And, if you think that’s an exaggeration, you should look at the amount of dryer fires in the past five years. Fluff is the perfect fire starter because it’s dry and coarse, so it lights easily. When you put that next to an appliance that creates heat, you’re bound to be in trouble. Although it isn’t something you do every day, it’s imperative that you think about it more often. After all, it could save your life.

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#3: Household Pests

 

Homes are an excellent place for pests as well as human beings. Mice, rats, cockroaches etc. all love to move in and make the place their own. And, the way they breed means they will take over the entire house before long. Apart from being unsanitary, it also has structural impacts. Some pests, like termites, like to eat through wood like a hot knife through butter. If you leave it too long, the damage could spiral out of control. The lucky ones have to fork out thousands to repair the damage, while the unfortunate ones have to find a new home.

 

#4: Carbon Monoxide Reader

 

Although you can’t see something doesn’t mean it isn’t dangerous. Carbon monoxide is a perfect example because http://www.carbonmonoxidekills.com says it is a deadly gas. The worse news is that homes produce the gas on occasion. Any readers that aren’t up to the task won’t be able to alert you to the hidden danger. Not to be morbid, but this could lead to fatal complications. All it takes is a set of new batteries and you’re golden.

 

Oh, and you’ll need a carbon monoxide reader installed too.

Filed Under: DIY Interior, Home Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Top Three Worst Excuses For Not Tackling Home Repairs

June 2, 2017 Leave a Comment

 

[geralt / pixabay]

 

Household repairs are a pain. As much as they’re necessary, they’re also just plain annoying.

 

For one thing, it’s a financial cost on something that is just so unsatisfying. If you go through a redevelopment or renovate a room, then you at least have all the disturbance in exchange for a shiny new area of your house. However, with repairs, you have all the disturbance but none of the newness. All you get is your house returning to how it should be – and that, no matter which way you slice it, just isn’t as exciting.

 

Given this reality, it can be tempted to convince yourself that putting repairs off is a tempting and viable way of managing your house. Doing this tends to involve a series of carefully calculated little white lies; the untruths you try to convince yourself are reasonable.

 

Now, not to burst a bubble, but… that’s not going to work for long. If you find yourself recognizing any of the below excuses, then it might be time to finally launch yourself at that repair work. A little DIY or calling in the right pro could mean you no longer have to convince yourself of the below “truths”, which – as you will see – don’t stack up to that much scrutiny anyway…

 

“It costs too much money!”

 

Finances are tight. Everyone gets that; it’s been awhile since the populace as a whole seemed to have plenty of money to spend on whatever they chose. However, the immediate way of responding to this instinct is… it’s never not going to cost money. There’s no way you’re suddenly going to be able to find yourself considering the costs and realize everyone is charged $0 for the work.

 

Then there is the fact that it could end up costing you more in the long run. If you let issues go unmanaged, they will continue to deteriorate to the point where they will cost far more than they would have done to fix initially. If you have major structural issues with the foundations or external structure of your home, then these costs could spiral from the ‘expensive’ bracket and into the ‘can we afford to live here’ section. The cost of foundation repair and other major structural work is only going to increase.

 

“I don’t have time!”

 

This is the constant – and sure, we’re all busy people… but are you going to get any less busy any time soon? It seems unlikely. There’s never a ‘good time’ for a household repair; it’s always going to involve juggling other commitments and demands on your household finances.

 

Unless you have a block of time coming up when you will have nothing to do but your household repairs (and we’re talking weeks here), then not having enough time simply isn’t a believable reason for not getting down to the work.

 

“It’s such a big job!”

 

Well – as above – the one thing to keep in mind is that that’s not going to change any time soon. Leaving it isn’t going to make the job any smaller. In fact, as covered, time is probably going to make the issue even bigger. So tackle it now while it’s still as small and as manageable as it’s ever going to get.

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Spider-man Bath Bombs Recipe Fun in the tub!! Easy!! DIY

May 30, 2017 1 Comment

I have three grandsons who all love Spiderman. They are also extremely active and have sinus issues, so I came up with an idea to make them “Spider-man Bath Bombs” and adding sinus and calming essential oils to help them at night time.

The reason we call them Spider-man bath bombs is simple, because they are red and blue like Spider-Man. I have found adding little mini toys inside them so they find them in the tub is a fun way for them to play while the essential oils do their job!

Most of the time you can find mini figures at Dollar Tree, or their own toy box, they don’t care!! But be careful if too small with your little ones, make sure they are age appropriate!

How To Make Your Own Bath Bombs:

Ingredients and Supplies:

  • 1 cup baking soda
  • 1/2 cup citric acid
  • 1/2 cup Epsom salts
  • 1/2 tsp. Corn Starch
  • 1 tsp. water
  • 2 tsp. essential oil
  • 3 tsp. oil (olive oil)
  • food coloring (any color you want)
  • bowl
  • whisk
  • cup
  • bath bomb mold

Mix all the dry ingredients together in a bowl, then divide it in two if you want two different colors.

Mix all the wet ingredients together in a cup, if more than one color, I separate into more than one cup.

 

Pour the wet into the dry mix and stir until smooth.

Put into the mold and wait.

Usually about 5 minutes later, I remove the top.

After sitting out over night I bag or box them individually.

If they begin to swell then you have too much moisture in them, add a little more cornstarch.

If they begin to crack then add a few drops of water to the mixture.

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Parenting The Post-Grad: Helping Your Son/Daughter Make That Next Transition

May 30, 2017 Leave a Comment

Even as your kids get older, they never stop being your little treasures. As a loving parent, you’ll want to provide as much as assistance as you physically can. That desire will still be strong when they approach the end of their undergraduate degree too.

 

Seeing your child collect their degree will feel you with immense pride, and it will also highlight that they are now an adult. Nevertheless, your help can still be extremely useful as they prepare to take the next steps in their life.

 

Here are just three ways you can continue to show your support.

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Help With Their Next Decision

 

Upon graduation, your son or daughter will be faced with a variety of potential pathways. While you should never force them into any decision, offering support throughout the selection process is key.

 

After years of studying, many will want to enter the working world, which is fine. Despite being an adult, they still have youth on their side. Continuing their academic progress is still an option. The John Monash Scholars 2017 show how it’s possible to complete a postgraduate degree while getting to see new parts of the world. If it encourages them to live their life while boosting long-term prospects, that has to be a positive step.

 

No two people are the same, and it’s up to your son or daughter to find what works for them. By providing them with the necessary support throughout the research stages, they’ll be set for far better decisions.

 

Teach Life Skills

 

The past three years have been a great opportunity for your child to start making the transition to adulthood. They’ve gained a greater sense of independence, and have started taking greater responsibility in their lives. However, those developments have been somewhat limited.

 

This might be their first chance to rent or even purchase a property of their own. Not a student flat, but a home that requires care and attention. These DIY skills should go a long way to helping your son or daughter create that homely environment on a budget. This is also the time for them to ditch the nutritionally substandard student meals for real cooking too.

 

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Money management will be another key skill, especially if they need to pay back student loans and other debts. Your child probably has a better understanding of the tech systems than you. But you can certainly have a positive impact on money-saving strategies.

 

Show Pride

 

This is one of the proudest stages of parenthood, so don’t be afraid to show it. Not only does it strengthen your bond, but it also breeds confidence for your child too.

 

As exciting as this time in their life is, it can be daunting. After all, even graduates face tougher employment challenges than ever before. Giving them that confidence to chase their dream job or advanced degree by standing out from the crowd could make all the difference. Missing out on those opportunities due to self-doubt would be a huge shame indeed.

 

You know that your son or daughter is capable of greatness. If your support can help them unlock that potential, you’d be a fool not to make the most of it.

 

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A Roof Over Your Head? Don’t Take It For Granted

May 29, 2017 Leave a Comment

One of the most important things is the home – or the idea of home. A home means comfort, wellbeing, family and safety and we all know in our own way just how important each of those aspects is to our own lives. We want comfort to relax and let the worries of life flow away. We want wellbeing to be healthy and live a fulfilling life. We want family so that we are surrounded by the people we care about most. We want safety so we don’t have to worry about the outside world, for one reason or another.

 

Now when we think of the idea of a home, a phrase comes to mind – does it not? Four walls and a roof, for that, is home the typical home is constructed in the physical world and within the mind. Four walls and a roof is all we need to call something a home, well – in the most basic form anyway. The perfect home is going to be different in its own way for everyone in this world – as everyone has different expectations of what a home should be. However, those four walls and roof? That’s exactly what we need to get started.

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So if you’re a homeowner, or a parent – or anyone living in a home with those four walls you need to avoid taking that for granted. But you also need to ensure that you’re looking after the roof – as without that – you’ve not got much of a home at all. The roof serves a number of important functions not least protecting the inhabitants of a home from the outside world and the weather.

 

The roof does a number of things for the home, and it needs to be on form during these tasks at all times. Being at 90% isn’t good enough, and the condition of a roof can deteriorate at any moment, and the condition can plummet fast.

 

The most basic check you can perform on a roof is a shingle check. A roof needs shingles to ensure that no wind or rain escapes into the confines of the home from the outside world. If your shingles are broken or missing – you might need to replace them with a like for like – or even an improvement like Wakefield Bridge Steel Shingles. Shingles are the first line of defense on the roof so if they are missing or broken, replace them.

 

The main job of the roof is to guard the home from the weather, but it also has another critical function, and that is to guard the foundation of a building from debris and water.

 

The roof does this with its shape, so that water falls away from the bottom of the building, but it also uses guttering to lead water towards drains. This is to prevent erosion. One of the easiest things you can do to help you roof is to clear the gutters or replace broken guttering.

 

A leaky roof means hell for the home. Don’t take it for granted. Fix any issues and keep it safe so it can keep your home safe.

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17 Bright Ideas For Hiring Reputable Tradespeople

May 26, 2017 Leave a Comment

If you find yourself in the midst of home improvements and needing some professional help to get the job done, then it can be a worrying time. You’re inviting people you don’t know into your home, hoping that they are going to do the work to a standard you find acceptable. It can be tough to know who to trust when it comes to hiring tradespeople; it can also be awkward when you have hired them and work begins. So here’s a few ideas to make the process as streamlined as possible.

 

1) Google everything you can about the company. You’d be surprised how many people don’t check a company out online before hiring them.

 

2) Know exactly what you want. One of the worst ways of hiring in a tradesperson is being unsure of the work you need doing. Make sure you have a clear idea in your mind.

 

3) Know the numbers. Whenever you invite someone to quote, always ensure that you have a rough idea of the budget you have in mind…

 

4) … But don’t tell them! If you are asked for a budget, then just shrug and say that you’re open to offers.

 

5) Check local records. If someone has been called to the attention of local authorities for bad workmanship, there may be a record at a local authority. You need to speak to anyone involved in trading standards.

 

6) Check local courts. If it’s a big job involving a lot of money, then go the extra mile and call the local court also. They will have any record of prosecutions or civil cases that may have resulted in the past.

 

7) Give them space. It can be tempting when someone is working in your home to stand over them, checking what they are doing. It’s tempting, but it’s also a bad idea. Not only does it foster a sense of unease, but you might distract them from something important.

 

8) Get at least three quotes, but five is better.

 

9) Never commit to anything immediately. If someone gives a quote you’re happy with, don’t commit to it on the spot. Give yourself at least 24 hours to do the relevant research before you agree.

 

10) Write everything down. Even for a basic job, get everything written down and signed by both parties. There’s far less room for confusion if this happens.

 

11) Request multiple contact details. Any reputable company will have at least one phone number and an email address. Ask for these at least; you want to know you can contact them if something goes wrong.

 

12) Go local. This is especially important for someone you might need to call in an emergency, such as a plumber or electrician. The sooner they can get to you if you have a problem with the project, the better.

 

13) Don’t hand over money upfront. If you are asked for money “for supplies”, then insist on accompanying them to the store.

 

14) Only pay for work that has been done. There is no need to make advance payments, especially for small home-based projects.

 

15) Be polite. If things are not progressing as you expect, it’s still better to be polite and courteous. This ups your chances of a satisfactory result.

 

16) Get quotes, not estimates. A quote is an official record, preferably on paper, of what something will cost. An estimate is far vaguer and can be subject to increases without your knowledge.

 

17) Ask for references. Try and obtain at least one reference from previous work they have completed.

 

(Image Source: PixaBay)

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6 Things That Will Improve Your Home DIY Skills

May 25, 2017 Leave a Comment

As a homeowner, you’re going to need the right DIY skills if you want to get the most from your house. Without them, you might find that you simply can’t make your property into the home of your dreams. That would be a massive shame, so maybe now is the time to start thinking about improving your DIY skills. If you do this right, you will be able to make your house into the home you want it to be.

 

Of course, DIY is not easy, especially if you have no existing experience of it. That’s just the truth of the matter, and you should realise this before you dive in head first. Here are six things that will help to improve your home DIY skills.

 

  1. Get Comfortable with the Basics

 

First of all, you need to make sure that you’re as comfortable as you possibly can be with the basics. This is essential, and not everyone is. So, you need to be prepared to do a bit of research read some books and get the basics nailed do. This will provide you with the basis from which you can push on and learn more about DIY. So, don’t hesitate to get started. Start learning about all the different kinds of hammers, nuts, bolts and power tools that are out there. Don’t forget to learn about any safety equipment you might need too.

Protection Tools Diy Gloves Suitcase

Image Source

 

  1. Watch Plenty of Demonstrations and Learn From Them

 

The best way to learn from other people when it comes to DIY is watching. Watching and learning allow you to see for yourself what needs to be done. This is useful because DIY is practical and hands-on. You need to see other people doing what you need to do before you can go ahead and carry out the work yourself. It’s much easier than following written instructions too. Luckily, video sharing platforms online provide you with a bountiful supply of instruction and demonstration videos that you can watch and learn from in seconds.

 

  1. The Willingness to Take on a Variety of Projects

 

A willingness to delve in and try new things will take you a long way. If you are apprehensive and move too slowly, you will never learn fast enough. You will constantly be holding yourself back, which is not what you want at all. So, show a willingness to try new things and take on a variety of DIY projects. In reality, you will only improve and get better by doing things with your own two hands. No amount of guides or demonstrations can replace the experience of getting stuck in and using your hands to make or mend something.

 

  1. New Tools

 

You are also going to need a set of tools to get you started. You won’t get very far without these. Start off by investing in the basic things, such as a tool belt and all the things that it needs to be filled with. When you’ve done that, you can move onto the more advance tools. If you’re buying power tools, always research the options first. If you’re looking for a new router to use, read router reviews before making a purchase. There are so many tools out there, and you need to weigh up the options before handing over your cash.

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  1. Basic Plumbing Knowledge

 

Plumbing is one aspect of DIY that many people ignore or assume that they can’t get right. But there is no need to assume that that’s the case. There are plenty of small plumbing fixes that you can carry out if you want to. Hiring a plumber to come over and fix a minor problem can be expensive. So, why pay for that if you can carry out the work yourself. It simply doesn’t make sense. Learn some of the basics, and get to know how the shower, taps and toilet in your home work. That’s always the best way to start.

 

  1. Small Compartments and Storage Solutions

 

Finally, you’re going to need an organised storage arrangement to keep all your bits and pieces in. This is something that many people overlook, but if you want to do DIY properly, you need to make the most of compartments and storage solutions. All those nuts and bolts and other little things need to be kept organised. That way, you will be able to find what you need in the future when the time comes to use them. Create a setup in your shed or garage with these things in place.

Filed Under: DIY Interior, Home Tagged With: , ,

Children’s Handmade Christmas Decorations #DIY #Christmas

November 18, 2016 Leave a Comment

kids-christmas-crafts-ideas-christmas-moment-150x150

 

With three little grandsons running around our house, I have learned the best moments are those making memories. I love to do arts and crafts with them and just trying to take every opportunity to teach them new things. This time of year makes me really realize what is important…. memories!!!  My favorite gifts are their pictures or handmade items. I am sharing the best, easiest and cheapest DIY Christmas gifts for children to make. These would be awesome to do at school, Sunday School or at home.

http://www.joann.com/christmas-bell-ornaments/482608P25.html

 

http://dearcrissy.com/diy-christmas-photo-ornament/

 

http://myclassroomideas.com/christmas-ornament/

 

http://sheaffertoldmeto.com/on-2nd-day-of-christmas-gifts-for-my/

 

http://littleilluminations.blogspot.com/2010/12/holiday-bulletin-boards.html

 

http://3peas-in-a-podprim.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2012-07-27T05:53:00-07:00&max-results=5

 

http://frommrstomama.blogspot.com/2013/11/20-days-of-christmas-crafts-with-kids.html

 

http://www.thingstoshareandremember.com/sled-craft-ornament/

 

http://www.iheartartsncrafts.com/20-keepsake-ornaments-for-kids-to-make/

 

http://krokotak.com/category/holidays/christmas/

Feel free to add some you like or find this season. I would love to see even more! I can’t wait to share some of these cute ideas!!

 

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