Cleaning A Child’s Bedroom - 15 Minutes A Day
April 25, 2008
Cleaning A Child’s Bedroom - 15 Minutes A Day
by: Jess Knutson
Here is a simple plan to help your child/teen keep their rooms clean. Don’t worry if the room is a disaster. Just set the timer for 15 minutes each day and get started. Continue clearing clutter each day until you find the tops of the dressers and the floor. By the end of the week, you will be amazed at the progress! When you are ready start the weekly plan.
During the first few weeks, you may want to assist (or at least supervise). Start by making sure that everything in the room has a home. Don’t worry about perfect organization, just get the surfaces cleared off.
Supplies Needed
Trash bag
Laundry basket
Donate bucket - get rid of the items that they no longer love!
Assorted baskets or buckets for smaller items
Labels - labels make organizing easier
Every Day
Make the bed - have your child do this before the daily task
Monday
Clear all surfaces (dressers, table, nightstands, etc.)
Tuesday
Contemporary Grandfather Clocks
April 25, 2008
The name "grandfather clock" instantly conjures up images of a dark, musty room, grandpa sitting in his rocking chair, smoking a pipe. Curls of woodsy smelling smoke drift across the room as his faithful old clock strikes the hour. Though the name grandfather is definitely old-fashioned, the clocks aren’t. While much of their technology is a reflection of the earliest clocks, the styles have evolved through the years.
Contemporary grandfather clocks are available in a wide range of styles. Whatever your taste, you are sure to find a clock to match. Today’s grandfather clocks can fit into any décor, including Oriental, Victorian or Minimalist. Moreover, a grandfather clock can become the focal point of a room, with everything else simply accentuating and supporting it.
Howard Miller is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of grandfather clocks ranging in price from $800 to $13,000. Sligh grandfather clocks are famous for their exquisite finish and sound and can be found in both traditional and contemporary designs. Ridgeway grandfather clocks have been made in Ridgeway, Virginia using German movements since 1960. Bulova is a well-known leader in clock craftsmanship manufacturing their line of grandfather clocks in Canada.
Candle Holders
April 25, 2008
Candle Holders
by: Gerald Hopkins
Your home’s décor can be enhanced by the use of beautiful, yet functional candle holders placed around the house. Even an outside garden looks pretty with sturdy candle holders. Paired with a scented candle, candle holders make the perfect gift for the hard to buy for. Children can even make candle holders that are perfect for gift giving. In addition, candle holders come in all shapes and sizes and can fit virtually anyone’s personal taste.
There are numerous types of candle holders available to beautify your home. There are companies that cater especially for those who want to purchase candle holders. To quickly and easily decorate a blank wall, look at some of the scrolled ironwork candle holders. Handcrafted wrought iron candle holders make a stylish addition to a table or a centerpiece. These types of candle holders can be bought to hold one or several candles. Try placing long tapered candles in candle holders to decorate a mantel.
The Amazing Hummingbird
April 25, 2008
Without a doubt, hummingbirds are beautiful and interesting creatures.
Those living in the wild usually have a lifespan of 3 to 5 years. However, in captivity, hummingbirds can survive for more than 10 years!
They feed off of insects, taking down an average of 400 to 500 per day, even more when it rains. They also eat more when they are about to migrate, sometime even doubling their weight for the long flight ahead. Hummingbirds also feed on flower nectar, helping the flower out at the same time by pollinating it.
For this reason, the Portuguese gave the hummingbird its name meaning "flower kisser." There are even North American plants that depend on hummingbirds for pollination.
They can hover above the flower or feeders thanks to their unique wings; in order for them to make forward and backward strokes consecutively their wings rotate at their shoulders.
Some hummingbirds’ wings flap as slow as 18 times per second, and some can beat them at an astonishing 70 to 80 flaps per second. They breathe an average of 250 times per minute. These small birds have speed, flying at speeds over 45 mph, and with bodies ranging from 2 ¼" to 8 ½", they are also quite agile.
Home Equity Loan ? Still a Better Idea Than a 401(K) Loan
April 24, 2008
Anyone who borrows money is always looking for the cheapest source of funding. That makes sense; no one wants to pay more in interest than is absolutely necessary. And anyone with a sizeable amount of debt, such as credit card debt or a student loan, would be wise to consolidate their debt with a lower interest loan. One source of such a loan is a 401(K) account, which many consumers may have through their employer. Since the interest rate on Federal student loans rose on July 1, many students who missed that deadline may be wondering if consolidating through a 401(K) loan is a good alternative. Is it?
In a previous article, we have outlined several reasons why borrowing against a 401(K) account may be less favorable than using a home equity loan instead. The reasons include the fact that the interest on a 401(K) loan is not tax deductible, and that the borrower loses the ability for his or her investment to compound over time. If you have borrowed the money, it can’t earn interest and the cost over twenty or thirty years could be dear. In addition to those, there are other reasons why a home equity loan would be a better source of consolidation funds.
Caring For Your Vinyl Siding
April 24, 2008
Caring For Your Vinyl Siding
by: Henry Gallant
A low maintenance and durable material, vinyl siding is an increasingly popular home exterior. Even though it is a low maintenance material, you will still want to clean your vinyl siding from time to time. Just make sure you know about the best cleaning methods before you get started.
Simple maintenance cleaning of your vinyl siding is fairly straightforward. Use a long-handled brush with soft bristles or a soft cloth to wipe it down with soap and water. If your vinyl siding has textured surfaces to it, you will want to use only the brush with soft bristles so as to avoid wiping stains into the grooves with a cloth. Start with the vinyl siding at the bottom of your house and work your way up. This will help to prevent streaking from the soapy water running down your house. If you have other materials, such as brick, on parts of your home, cover them so that runoff from your vinyl siding will not affect it. Lastly, always make sure you rinse the area before the cleaning solution dries.
8 Tips To Extend The Life Of Your Carpets
April 24, 2008
8 Tips To Extend The Life Of Your Carpets
by: John Murray
Carpets are a big investment and you want to make sure they last as long as possible. Follow these 8 tips to extend the life of your carpets.
1. Vacuum
Vacuum, vacuum, and then vacuum some more. It’s the easiest and cheapest thing you can do to extend the life of your carpet. That’s because vacuuming often removes the fine grit that falls deep into the carpet and causes wear. The more you vacuum the longer your carpets will last.
2. Buy A Good Vacuum
All vacuums are not created equal and you need one that has enough suction to pull the grit that lays low in the carpet not just the surface debris. It’s the grit deep in the carpet that rubs and wears the fabric causing your carpets to look old and wear out faster. So spend a little more on that vacuum and save thousands in replacing your carpets.
3. Replace The Padding
Are Tibetan Rugs Popular?
April 24, 2008
Are Tibetan Rugs Popular?
by: John Murray
We’ve all heard about Tibetan rugs, but are Tibetan rugs popular in our North American culture? The popularity of Tibetan rugs waxes and wanes from month to month. One minute there is interest in the North American market, the next there is none.
Tibetan rugs are a tribal tradition and their designs are pictorial and generally focus on the Buddhist element. There rugs will also include geometric patterns. Collectors can’t seem to decide if these unique rugs are worth their investment dollars or not.
Older Tibetan rugs in good condition are hard to find. Most never left Tibet and thus the only ones available in the North American market are the more current rugs. Few rug dealers provide an opportunity to purchase beautiful old Tibetan rugs. More often than not the rugs that have found their way to the western world are the checkerboard rugs which are a variety of the tsuktruk weavings. They are generally a single color pile weave made from narrow strips that are sewn together. These rugs do not have designs.
Building Your Own Grandfather Clock
April 23, 2008
Timeless and elegant, classic and stately-grandfather clocks are all of those things. They are also rather expensive, with heirloom-quality grandfather clocks costing upwards of $10,000, making them inaccessible to much of the population. However, with just a little bit of money and a lot of do-it-yourself spirit, anyone can own a grandfather clock.
These kits generally contain all of the components you need to build a grandfather clock, including wood, hardware, and detailed instructions. The components are pre-cut, pre-drilled, pre-sanded and some components are already fully assembled. All the customer has to do is stain and assemble the pieces. The construction of many of the kits requires no special tools and no specific woodworking knowledge. (Check individual kits for specific tool and skills requirements). Pendulums, clock faces, and movement pieces need to be purchased separately. Some companies also offer a complete package, which includes the basic kit, plus the movement, dial, pendulum, and beveled glass.
Kits are available in different skill levels. Novices can purchase kits with much of the difficult work already done. Those with more time to commit to the project and more advanced woodworking abilities can simply purchase the hardware, movements, dials, and pendulums, and construct their own cases. More hardcore woodworking enthusiasts can make the entire clock from scratch, and simply purchase grandfather clock design plans.
Think Vintage for Your Garden
April 23, 2008
Container gardeners take note. Tired of clay pots? Think vintage, because when you do, there’ll be lots to choose from. Most likely vintage items will be worn and chipped which will only add charm to your garden.
Raid the Bathroom.
Forget about a relaxing soak in the tub. Vintage claw-foot bathtubs can be a gardener’s delight. They work well because they are big and deep so they can hold a lot of flowers plus all that earth will retain moisture. Just make sure that you are happy with where you’ve positioned them because once full of soil, they’ll be too heavy to move.
Search the Garage.
Galvanized pails and watering cans can make great planters. Vintage bicycles with wired baskets to hold flowers are eye-catching.
Go to the Kitchen.
Enamelware ? wash basins, pots, colanders, teakettles - work well in the garden because enamelware can handle the elements. Plus any rust or chips simply add character. Even the kitchen sink can add some whimsy to a garden. Wicker baskets can be moved outdoors for garden duty.
Clean the Closet.
Old worn boots, cast off suitcases and trunks can take on a new life outdoors.
