Your home may look clean and orderly. It may have a smell as fresh as a spring breeze. Every item may be in its proper place, just waiting for a surprise visit from an in-law. Lurking just beneath this appearance of cleanliness, however, may be a tiny bed bug just waiting to wreak havoc in your home. Impossible, you might think, but these barely noticeable insects can hitch a ride into your home in a shopping bag, on a piece of clothing, on a feathery or furry pet, or in the cuff of a pair of pants. Once there, they can live without food for up to a year and multiply rapidly. The easiest way to deal with bed bugs is to arm yourself with knowledge and take pre-emptive action.

What Preventative Actions Should I Take?

Because bed bugs are not equipped with wings, they must move from one place to another by attaching to something that is moving. They also have their favorite territory in a home and love to reside in or near the bed, within the cushions of upholstered chairs, ottomans, or couches, and inside dark crevices. Keeping a close eye on these places will lead to early detection so that the appropriate actions can be taken for eliminating these tiny creatures. The following are easy ways to keep these maddening parasites from making your house their own “home, sweet, home”:

• Keep an eye on family members for clustered red bumps on exposed wrists, arms, legs, and faces and watch for excessive scratching.
• Scoot all beds away from the wall, and cover mattresses and box springs with protective plastic coverings.
• Use sticky pest strips around all four bedposts to capture the little monsters when they move.
• Wash new or second-hand clothing before placing it in drawers or hanging in the closet.
• Run new stuffed toys through the dryer, letting the high heat destroy these pests.
• After traveling, empty the suitcase outside, and wash all clothing, even that which has not been worn during the trip, before returning it to its storage area.

What Should I Do If I Spot Signs of Infestation?

Bed bugs are such stealthy little devils that, despite a mom’s most vigilant efforts, they sometimes manage to get through her defenses and begin a family right under her nose. Although this triggers the “yuck” factor, it is not cause for great alarm. Bed bug bites have never been linked to any fatal viruses or plagues.

The following actions should be taken to eliminate their presence:

• Dispose of the infected mattress or clean with a brush, paying special attention to the seams.
• Thoroughly vacuum everything in the entire house and use a steam cleaner on carpeting.
• Run clothing and other fabric covered items through the laundry cycle.
• If these actions fail to eradicate them, call a pest control company for professional advice.

The bed bug battle can be won, but tenacity is the key. By knowing the warning signs and taking some simple precautions, you can reduce the chances of your family being affected by these unpleasant pests.

This is a guest post by Karen Barnes, who follows the tips in this post to minimize the chances of a bed bug infestation occurring in her home.

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We all know how important wildlife is. Insects, birds, and other little animals are essencial for a balanced ecosystem. Jordans 10% Challenge challenges you to build in your garden, backyard, or window box a special place for 10% of wildlife.

Whether they are flowers, a water fountain or a bird box, everything counts. It is up to us to help the wildlife and to create habitats for it. 10% of our own space is just a small portion and we can still make a difference.

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Remodeling a kitchen is one of the best ways to improve a home, but it also can be an expensive project. Fortunately, there are several tricks you can use to save money while still improving the look of your kitchen.

Planning

Thinking ahead can save money and time. There are a lot of options to consider and rushing into this type of remodeling project can end up costing more in the long run. Making a plan and sticking to it will help keep the project on time and within budget.

*Research – Putting together the perfect kitchen will be easier and potentially more cost effective if you keep a file of your favorite or potential appliances, tiles, paint chips and counter samples. Then shop around to find the lowest prices. Saving a few dollars here and there will soon add up.

*Survey the space – Working within the current design will cost a lot less than adding on to the area or moving electrical sockets or plumbing. Figuring a budget will help when it comes time to decide whether a particular item is a want or a need. Think about functionality not just aesthetics.

*Free labor – While much of the work will need to be contracted, even if you have no mechanical skills you could have a go at doing the demolition work yourself, such as dismantling old units and removing wall tiles. This will mean less the contractor has to do, reducing the number of hours worked. Ask friends or neighbors who may have building or decorating skills if they are willing to help out with certain portions of the project for free if, in exchange, you offer to help them out with one of their projects.

Specifics

When it comes to appliances, cabinets and countertops, there are many options available that can save money when remodeling. This is where the planning and research really comes in handy.

*Appliances – Using your existing appliances will save the most money. If this option is not available, make sure to shop around. Some retailers may offer floor models for sale at drastically reduced prices. While they may have a couple of scratches, they should operate the same as the non-clearance items. Check to see if any manufacturer’s warranties are being offered. Most importantly, be sure what is being bought will be used. You need to focus on value for money, and the cheapest item may not necessarily be the most cost-effective in the long run if it breaks down after a few months. Reading online reviews from other customers is a good method of assessing whether an appliance is a good buy.

*Cabinets – Other than maybe countertops, cabinets likely will be where the largest amount of money will be spent. Perhaps the least expensive option is to make do with the current cabinets but replace the hardware, such as hinges and knobs, for an updated look. Another option is to determine if fewer, but larger, cabinets are possible. Look for quality material rather outward beauty. Cabinets that are made poorly but look good will need to be replaced in a few years. Also, consider RTA kitchen cabinets. These have different levels of quality based on the material used, but regardless of what they are made of, the costs of installation will be reduced if you can assemble them yourself.

*Countertops – Laminate patterns can give the appearance of granite or quartz but for a fraction of the price of real stone. If a pricey material is really desired, consider using it for only a portion of the counter space, such as an island, to make it a centerpiece. For instance, a small area of granite could be useful for rolling out pastry if you do a lot of baking.

A brand new look for your kitchen does not have to mean breaking the bank. By planning, researching and considering all the options, a beautifully designed kitchen is within reach.

This guest post is a contribution from Nicola Hawkins, whose thrifty nature means she is always on the lookout for ways to save money. She is very proud of the money she saved on her black walnut kitchen cabinets, which she assembled herself. She believes you shouldn’t have to sacrifice quality for a low price and that it pays to do your research and shop around before starting any big DIY project.

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Whenever you visualize a wrought iron fence or gate you most likely visualize a very small backyard encircling a brick townhouse in ancient Boston or perhaps a stately plantation in America’s Deep South. But wrought iron fences and gates are generating a return in communities similar to yours and my own.

Many reasons exist regarding fencing your property or home. Chances are you’ll only desire to embellish your backyard. Most of the time however, fencing offers additional safety from unwelcome animals as well as infestations, security and proper protection for your family members and possibly most significantly privacy.

Nowadays, technology enables property owners with pre-existing fences to improve the functionality of their gate using a gate operator. A gate operator is a mechanized system utilized to open and close a gate, including one right at the end of a driveway. You will find three primary varieties of electric automatic gate openers, worm (or screw) operated, arm openers and underground loop openers. Think about having the ability to carry your groceries or take out the trash without the problem of opening and closing your gate. Using a gate operator the procedure is practically hands free.

There are numerous kinds of gate operators. Apollo swing gate operators and slide gate operators are generally more popular. They might be combined with pre-existing gates or could be a component of your own fencing plan at the design and style stage.

Home owners in top quality countryside household developments presenting unique homes on lots of land might demand a driveway gate. Driveway gates don’t just add style but add safety to homes which have extended driveways. A gate at the entrance to your residence is additionally a perfect location to put house security cameras. Driveway gates can be installed with a gate operator and they are frequently produced from iron, steel or ornamental aluminum.

Many Americans imagine growing old in a little cape with a white picket fence while some attempt to get a remarkable estate surrounded by a stately wrought iron fence. No matter which alternative matches your way of life, fencing is a valuable and beautiful component of any Americans dream home.

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Going green can become an obsession. It starts with turning off your lights to save a little money on your power bill, and not too long after you’re saving bottles and cans to recycle. Before you know it, you’re wearing a hemp t-shirt while driving out of the Toyota dealer in a new Prius. Unless you’re that last guy I was referring to, then chances are that it wouldn’t hurt to go that extra green mile (no, not the green mile from that Tom Hanks movie). A great aspect of your home that most people normally don’t think to “greenify” is the security of their home itself. Here are 4 ways that you can add a little eco-friendliness to your home security.

1. Use a hemcrete door
Hemcrete is a bio-composite made from hemp, lime, and water, which makes an extremely versatile alternative to concrete and drywall. It does a ridiculously great job of trapping carbon while it’s made, making it not only carbon neutral, but carbon negative. This along with some other factors is what also makes it 7 times stronger than regular concrete. However, there is one downside: growing hemp is still illegal in America due to some sketchy politics in the 1930s, making it slightly more expensive than concrete because of the importation costs.

2. Recycle
Recycling is not only a good idea because of its obvious benefits for the environment. Taking your trash to a recycling facility eliminates the risk of leaving papers with personal information and discarded credit cards out in front of your house as a peace offering to burglars. Every year over 10 million people are victims of identity theft, with the average victim losing $6,000. One of the easiest ways to avoid this is by shredding paper and not leaving them to begin with out in a trash can in front of your home.

3. Trim shrubs
Trimming your shrubs may actually sound like a very un-green-like thing to do, but although it may ostensibly seem like a good idea to leave them blocking your windows (figuring that the burglars won’t be able to tell if your home is unattended), it actually puts you at greater risk. Most people don’t realize that burglars actually look for shrubs and other things blocking windows since they actually provide them cover from your neighbors and other passers-by while they’re ransacking your home.

4. Use a solar powered alarm system
Most people say that a security system cannot be powered purely on solar energy. If their definition of a security system involves surveillance cameras, then they are absolutely correct. However, if crime stats have showed us anything besides the fact that God apparently doesn’t care about New Jersey, it’s that motion detector based alarm systems aren’t only more effective than surveillance camera based systems, but are a fraction of the cost. Solar panels can supply up to 15% of a household’s power needs, making them more than capable of powering a motion detector based system that already operates with a fraction of the energy of one with cameras.

Remember, I’m not saying to prioritize eco-friendliness over safety, but merely offering suggestions to help incorporate your home’s security into your green lifestyle. The sooner we start finding new ways to be sustainable, the sooner we can bring the planet off death row.

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Time flies. My son is 12, my daughter is 7 and one week ago I turned 42…uau!!

One of my new year resolution was to continue at home being a housewife, mother and freelancer. So far so good.

On the last few months I was able to buy some home accessories that brought me some tidiness to my home. Kitchen baskets for potatoes, onions, and garlic which I put in the pantry. A shoe cabinet to keep the shoes out of sight. Of course I would need some more little storage baskets but for now it is perfect. I really need to buy a small vacuum cleaner to pick up the breadcrumbs and a new DVD player.

The recent acquisition is a gift my mother gave me for my birthday. She offered me a beautiful sundial which I put in my library. Decorative Sundials are really beautiful and they can be a perfect gift for a family relative or friend.

Now, we just bought something really big, but that is a surprise for the next days or couple of weeks. Do you wanna guess what it is? I can tell you that it will stay in the backyard.

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The rooms I want to be spotless are the bathrooms, and I have three of them. It’s not easy, but several times a week I have to clean them. With two kids around and most of the time a few more that come over to play I have to keep the bathroom cleaned and disinfected to prevent germs and unwanted virus.

I always used regular products but recently I saw the presentation video from Domestos Zero Limescale and I was quite interested in the product. Domestos Zero Limescale is presented in a “scary” black bottle with a very useful green lid. The lid is quite amazing since it lets you squeeze the product in all directions. It’s very easy to apply and claims that destroys germs even below the waterline.

So far I’m really satisfied with this product. Have you tried the product?

Let’s take a look at this short Domestos Zero Limescale video and try to find the 10 germs in the screen. Take a close look…




This post is brought to you by Domestos. All opinions are 100% mine.

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The country is still very much in the grips of winter, but the evenings are getting lighter and on the right day you can even catch a scent of spring in the air. Modern life moves so quick these days and when you have kids to look after the days seem to pass in the blink of an eye. Summer is the perfect season to get your little cherubs out of the house and into the garden for some fresh air and exercise. However, once you’ve pried them away from the TV, you then have to find something suitable for them to use outside to keep them entertained. If you are lucky enough to have a garden suitable to use then here are some of the top outdoor play equipment designed specifically to be fun and safe.

The traditional piece of outdoor play equipment has always been the climbing frame. When I was a kid a climbing fame seemed to be nothing more than scaffolding. Today there is an astonishing amount of climbing frames available, metal and wood varieties are available and there are a number of add-ons and extras you can buy to enhance the equipment further and make it more fun and interesting for your kids. I’ve always liked the look of the wooden climbing frames, they are nicer of the eyes and they look solid and safe, they also tend to be a bit more elaborate and can include slides, swings and a number of other features. Climbing frames help your children to develop key skills such as an intuitive understanding of 3 dimensional spaces, hand eye foot coordination and muscle development.

Trampolines have become a very popular choice for families to buy for their children. Again, there is a wide variety of trampolines available to purchase with sizes from 8 foot to 14 foot being the most popular. You can also get mini trampolines for younger children and to keep the big kids safe many of the trampolines can be bought with a net safety enclosure to stop them from falling off. Trampolines are a great way for kids to develop core muscles and timing, larger trampoline can be used by one or more people so they also provide a good tool to develop interpersonal and communication skills.

Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best and if your child has a bike and you have a large enough garden then the 2 will go hand in hand together and keep your child entertained for hours. Bikes can be a tricky one to buy for kids because they are relatively expensive and kids outgrow them. However, a bike represents the first taste of independence you child will have and will teach them balance and coordination skills as well as developing muscles throughout the body and not just the legs.

If you’re a big kid at heart then you may like this next toy. I have to admit I love having a go on a space hopper, and kids are the same. If you’re unfamiliar with space hoppers they are simply a rubber ball with handles which allow the user to sit on top without falling off and hop around on. A simple, fun and safe toy for kids of any age to enjoy.

In a similar vein to the space hopper, the pogo stick is an all time classic. Another fun and safe toy for your kids to use outside the pogo stick is a one stop solution for any up and down related fun. The pogo stick can also be used as a piece of exercise equipment, so don’t be too ashamed if you’re sneaking out into the garden after the kids have gone to bed to use it.

Alex is a freelance internet marketer and copywriter working a company that specialises in trampolines. You can find him on Twitter here @harvey1dash8.

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Space is a problem for almost everyone, whether rich or poor. If you need proof, just look at all of the storage rentals that have popped up all over the country. It seems that no matter how much space we have, it is not enough to hold all of our junk. The problem with this is that a crowded living area is stressful for most people. To get the most out of the space you have available in your home, try the following inexpensive ideas:

TAKE AN INVENTORY
Before trying to create new space, it is wise to pause for reflection. Take a walk around your house to discover unused potential and areas where changes can be made. Ask these questions as you move from room to room:

• Are there items in this room which never get used and need to be discarded?
• Have I used the corners, tops of furniture, and floor space as effectively as possible?
• Is there wall space for adding hooks, hangers, or shelving?
• Would backless bar stools or benches take up less room and be more convenient than chairs?
• Are there any items that can be stacked to create more space?
• Am I using my drawers effectively?
• Could a screen be placed in a position that would provide hidden storage similar to closet space?
• Are there pieces of furniture that could be replaced with smaller versions or could your furnishings be rearranged in a more effective way?

MAKE SIMPLE CORRECTIONS
Once you know what your problems are, it will be easier to make inexpensive changes. These tips may be useful as you begin to search for ways to make your rooms look more spacious:

• Have a yard sale to get rid of items that are no longer being used. Then, use the proceeds to buy space-saving items from other yard sales or thrift shops.
• Have a swap meet with friends so that everyone will have the most useful storage and furnishings for their homes.
• Use bar stools at a counter to eat so that a table is unnecessary or keep stacking tables in a corner so they are out of the way unless needed.
• Make baskets your storage friends; these can be placed anywhere, including on the top of the refrigerator, beside the doors, and under the sink. They work in every room from the bath to the utility and can actually be decorative as well.
• Keep an eye out for storage solutions on FreeCycle; not only will you find needed items for your house but you will also be helping with environmental causes as well.

Once you get started trying to pare down your belongings and create more room in your surroundings, you may actually find the challenge quite fun. With a little time and creative thinking, each small change will add up to help you save space and improve the look and feel of your home.

This guest post has been contributed by Helen Pearson, who has used these space-saving ideas to organize her own home. You can view a selection of bar stools on one of the websites that Helen writes for.

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Decorating your house for the holidays can be a difficult task, especially finding ornaments, organizing your family to not eat the tree decorations, and other worries. In this article we’ll talk about the best way to decorate your tree and where to find good decorations.

What you’ll need

First, you’ll need to decide how tasteful, fun, or both you want your holiday to be. Some might want to buy premade decorations; you can find tasteful decorations from Grand Illusions online. They have things like hanging wire directions, candle rings, wire Christmas trees, place card holders, and some hanging tree decorations.

Making your Own Ornaments

If you would like to make decorations with your family, there’s a wide variety of options available! You can make a paper-star wreath, which is handmade 3d paper stars glued or attached to a wire wreath, makes an awesome pop effect in a window or on a door. You can find a template for 3d stars here, just make 22 stars of a few different sizes and attach them to a wire wreath frame.

For tree decorations you can make popcorn strings, which are pretty easy to make. You need a long line of string, popcorn, and a threaded needle, just string them through and in no time you’ll have trim for your tree. Another popular idea is the light bulb penguin; gather a light bulb, newspaper, Papier-mâché paste, foam, tacky glue, and acrylic paint. This technique can also be used to make a light bulb Santa. Papier-mâché the light bulb, paint it once it’s dry, attach googly eyes if you have them, and then attach a foam beak and feet. Once dry, attach a ribbon and you have an ornament!

Selecting decorations

If you’re going to buy decorations, think about how you want to present your home for the holidays, fun and festive, or more crisp and austere. Also keep in mind children and pets, would these be appropriate? Are they hanging low enough that they might get sick if they get them in their mouths? Once you’ve picked your decorations, decorate!

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It’s done. The green we had around the house is almost gone. The green is disappearing all over the place; sometimes replaced by new buildings other times it’s just a wood business where the land owners sell the wood to furniture companies.

Having a green environment around the house is an advantage. We wake up with the birds singing, when it’s windy we hear the trees moving, when it’s raining and sun at the same time we see the trees shinning and sparkling with the sun rays. The air is not as polluted as in the city center; we can smell the pine and eucalyptus scent; the kids cycle between the trees through paths they make themselves.

During summer there is the danger of fire but we always have two CO2 fire extinguishers in the house, one more on the basement floor and a hose connected to a tap ready to turn on the water if needed. We never had to use either method because in 10 years we never experienced a fire near us.

Today, the fields are going to be cleaned by the owner and most of the trunks will be gone. After they clean everything we have the authorization to go ahead and pick up the small pieces of wood they leave behind as well as the pine cones. We hope to gather as much wood as we can to be able to light the fireplace during winter. Although we have heaters we also like to hear the fireplace crackling on cold winter days.

Gathering wood and pine cones is something my kids love. They like to help and, once this is not a dangerous chore, we can turn it into a family activity. The kids get in touch with nature and they participate in a family chore. They like to help and participate so it’s good for all of us.

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When I was working full time the house cleaning was always an issue. I had no time to clean up, everything was done in a rush, usually on the weekend but the house never seemed to be cleaned. I used to say that I needed to stay at home one entire week to clean everything.

Some neighbors have cleaning ladies that come to their houses once or twice a week but I never had money for that. In fact they are always complaining that the cleaning ladies just clean the surface and don’t go underneath the dirt.

Now, that I am jobless and at home most of the day, I spend most of my time online trying to figure out ideas to earn some money so, cleaning is not a thing I do on a regular basis. In fact, when I look to the walls and the furniture I just want to quit cleaning. There are so many things to clean and wash around the house that I feel I need a cleaning contractor to send me an entire crew to clean my house from top to bottom. I feel that if a professional crew cleaned my house, I would be able to keep up with the cleaning afterwards and would have more time to do other things I like. Right now, I don’t know where to begin.

But, just in case you are thinking I have a completely disorganized and dirty house, you are wrong. The house is clean, almost everything on the right place, but I feel I need to clean the corners, the little spots where the broom, the vacuum cleaner or the cloth don’t reach. With two kids in the house some little toys parts and other kid’s stuff gets under everything. I guess I’m able to do the job but…a professional cleaning crew would do a even better job.

Also, once or twice a week a cleaning service to change the bed clothing, do the laundry, vacuum the house, clean the dust would be so wonderful. I could spend more time making the handcrafts I’m so eager to make.

Have you ever contracted a professional cleaning crew to clean your house?

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