The Best Christmas Decorations Are Made At Home

By Kathrine  |  2011/11/19 04:14 Posted in Blog  |  Comments Off

Christmas can be a really expensive time of year, especially if you want to buy a lot of presents for all your loved ones and have extensive dinner celebrations. There are plenty of ways though to cut down on the costs, without looking cheap.

One of my favorite things to use for decorating the home and giving it that real Christmas feel, is making origami Christmas ornaments together with the kids.

When we first began doing this several years ago, the results were far from perfect, but many a times have we looked back at the photos taken with our 3D digital camera during that period, remembering the beautiful moments we spent as a family, laughing and chatting away while making these decorations.

Over the years we have actually gotten pretty good at it, and have moved on to making more complicated origami decorations, and many people compliment us on our original christmas decor whenever they walk in to our home.

Now, if you think that making your own Christmas origami ornaments is far too difficult for you, think again! It really is not all that hard to do, but far more important than the end result, is the fact that it is the perfect way to spend quality time with your kids!

Protect Your Home’s Design by Addressing Common Roofing Problems

By Ericka S  |  2011/11/16 16:58 Posted in Blog  |  Comments Off

After you’ve gone through all the hard work of making your home look perfect, the last thing that you want to happen is for a leaky roof to destroy your expensive wallpaper and carpets.

Other than the foundation of your home, your roof also defines how well your house will stand against the heavy and constant barrage of the elements. Not only does your roof shield your loved ones against the elements but it also protects your home’s structure against water damage. But as with any other structure in your home, your roof also needs to be properly maintained, repaired and replaced when necessary.

 

As roofs are bound to yield to deterioration over time, understanding the proper and efficient ways to address your roofing problems is one of the best ways to avoid a costly roof replacement. To help you out, the Roofing Oklahoma website has summed up some of the most common problems in shingle roofing and how to best remedy them.

Damaged Shingles – if a part of your shingle has already chipped off, then you will need to replace them immediately. As this is quite common, it would be best to ask your contractors for any leftover or excess shingles used during your roofing installation. If there is none, you can always buy a new one at any home center depot or lumber yard. When removing shingles, locate the nails first and carefully remove them before prying the damaged shingles out.

Curled Shingles – as asphalt age, their corners have a natural tendency to curl. To delay this, you will have to glue down the curling sections of your shingles at the onset.

Cracked Shingles – another common roofing problem encountered by mane homeowners is that of cracking. As explained by www.roofingoklahoma.org, cracked shingles do not necessarily have to be replaced. If the shingles are still intact and in good condition, you can make do with applying a strong sealant to cover the crack.

By identifying and properly correcting the problems in your roof, you can help keep your family and home protected as well as save thousands of dollars in roof replacement costs.

Make the perfect Elmo nursery

By Kathrine  |  2011/11/16 13:20 Posted in Home Decor  |  Comments Off

Do you have a tot who is totally in love with the little red guy? Then they will love a Sesame Street themed nursery. Here are my tips for creating the perfect Elmo bedroom:

1. Keep the walls neutral.

There is a couple of reasons for this. Firstly, I know it is tempting to put up themed wallpaper, or a pasted on border to get the co-oridnated look, but based on my own experience I urge you not to do it. It is expensive, it takes a lot of time and effort, and unlike an adults room that once papered will be good for up to ten years, you will likely be changing the theme of this room within a couple of years.

So instead use paint. Since all things Sesame Street are very brightly colored with strong reds and blues, you should paint the walls a neutral color so as to not clash with the other things in the room, and not over stimulate your child at bed time.

2. Sesame Street Bedding

There’s lots of different types of Elmo bedding to choose from. If you are on a tight budget go for plain bedding, then buy an Elmo comforter of fleecy blanket to throw over the top.

3. Toys

There are some fantastic looking toys you can use to adorn shelves, or leave within reach to be played with, like the new rock star Elmo toy, or the latest talking Sesame Street plush toys.

4. Wall hangings

For inexpensive wall hangings look out for posters that you can frame, or even gift paper that you can cut out the characters from to make a collage, for a truly unique addition to your child’s bedroom.

Remember, whilst it may be easy to just hop into Amazon and buy all the matching Elmo wallpaper and bedding, creating your own handmade additions, like a framed collage, is what will make your baby’s room unique.

Decorating Your Garage Floor With A Coating

By Erik P  |  2011/11/13 00:41 Posted in Decorating Ideas  |  Comments Off

One place that people really fall down when it comes to decorating the home is in the garage.  What you say, the garage does not need any decoration?  I beg to differ.   You can make it look really good if you follow these garage floor coating tips that I am going to tell you about.

First, when you choose a color don’t go with the industrial, battleship grey color.  This looks worse than using operating room tile in your kitchen.  Go with something that adds a little bit of pizazz to what you see.  Ok, maybe it may look a little gaudy at first but it will grow on you and it definitely will be a conversation piece the next time your in-laws come around.  Besides that, why be boring.

Second, once you choose a nice color be sure you also add color flecks.  This gives you a very nice two-tone look which feels great to a guest.  Also, these flecks act as safety material against slips if the floor gets wet.

Third, be sure you do a good job of placing the coating on the floor.  It really looks tacky when you have a peeling problem.  The material for this kind of floor is going to be an epoxy.  Epoxies are long lasting and they will also protect against damage from such things as oil spills and drips and road salts.

There you have it, three reasons why decorating with a garage floor coating is a good idea and why it will help make your house look so much better.

Compare Cuisinart Griddler Prices

By Julianne  |  2011/11/12 17:53 Posted in Home Cooking  |  Comments Off

My wife gave me my honey do list this morning. You know that list, honey do this, honey do that. Actually this one will be quite easy. She is starting to do her Christmas shopping, so she is now comparing prices and shopping for the lowest prices for the items she wants to get. That has now become my job since I feel more comfortable on the Internet than her.

What she wants me to do is to compare prices for the Cuisinart 5 in 1 griddler. She knows I love shopping for the best deal on a product. I don’t like shopping at all, but I do love looking for the lowest price. It just kills me that if I don’t shop hard enough, that I will have overpaid for the product. And I hate overpaying.

So where do I begin this search? I made myself a cup of coffee and got comfortable in front of my laptop. I figured I’d put in compare prices Cuisinart griddler and see what comes up. I found a web site called http://www.squidoo.com/cuisinart-gr-4n-5-in-1-griddler-the-cuisinart-griddler-review. I found this site to be very helpful. First it offered a review on the product. Secondly it pointed me to perhaps the lowest price for this appliance that I had seen on the Internet.

Think About Your Whole Design When Home Decorating

By Erik P  |  2011/11/11 09:51 Posted in Home Furnishings  |  Comments Off

One of the most overlooked things when redesigning or redecorating your house is home furnishings. We take the time to look at paint samples, and wallpaper samples and spend many hours looking for and deliberating as to which colours and styles we will use. However it is not until we have decided that we then think about whether our existing home furnishings will actually fit in with what we have got planned.

Things like toy boxes to store the kid’s top toys for Christmas 2011 will be easy enough to include. But some things are a bit more of a stretch to our budgets, and it is not until you have made certain decorating choices that these things look out of place.

Lets face it some home furnishings can go on our list of Christmas Gifts, but this would only be small things like cushions and throws, where as the big items we need will be expensive to replace. So think about everything you will need before taking the decision as to which home furnishings you will be replacing. If you can’t afford to do these things then it might be an idea to put your ideas aside until you can. Or else change your major design ides.

 

 

5 Great Closet Organizing Ideas For You To Try

By Julianne  |  2011/11/08 11:53 Posted in Home Furnishings  |  Comments Off

If you are constantly finding your closet in a mess and you are struggling to keep it neat and tidy then you need to find other ways to keep it organized. You can certainly save yourself some time and energy by organizing your clothes, shoes and accessories. How many times have you tried to find a matching shoe with little success?

You may have thought these items were lost somewhere and start to blame another family member or start to tear your hair out in frustration. The problem with this is that your closet needs to be overhauled.  Here are some great closet organization tips that you can implement.

  • Clean out the clutter and excess so that you have more space. You will be surprised at just how many clothes and shoes you are not wearing. Once you have been through your closet and sorted out everything you will be able to come across a lot of items that you are not using. Hint: If you haven’t worn it in a year it’s probably time to clear.
  •  Professional closet organizers are very popular these days, but they come with a hefty price so you have to shop around and you shouldn’t have to buy more than you need. Do it yourself closet systems can be affordable if you plan properly.  
  • Investing in a portable closet storage is something else to think about. You won’t be using out of season clothes so it is not worth having them in your closet. Portable closets don’t cost a lot unless you go with a fancy solid wood. The cloth variety have zippers so they don’t collect any dust or moths. If you don’t want to buy something like this you can make something out of cardboard boxes, which will also do fine.
  • Only use the closet for your clothing and use another closet for your sporting goods and tools. Don’t put everything in one big closet because this is where clutter builds up.  You don’t have to buy a separate portable closet every time. For example a garage can accomodate a track system that has hooks to hang up all of your tools, such as Rubbermaid’s fast track system.
  • Use cube storage bins in your closets to help separate seasonal items. They are decorative and extremely functional at the same time.  Wire mesh storage cubes are ideal for the closet, garage and especially utility and kids rooms. It is easily accessible and it looks neat and tidy as well.
  • Draw up a list of what is in your cupboard after you do a spring cleaning every 6 months or so. This will make you completely organized and you will know just where everything is.

 

Improve your bachelor pad with an iCade

By Erik P  |  2011/11/08 05:43 Posted in Vintage Style  |  Comments Off

So if you are thinking about improving your home then there are many things to consider as we know.  But for all you men out there reading this; one extra hurdle we have to overcome is the battle for our own space in our home, if we are married that is, or have a permanent live-in partner.  Long, long ago, when we were but young bucks and free and single etc, we could if we were lucky enough, surround ourselves with the colours, posters and decor that we wanted.  But things change, donrt they just!

It seems that women really do wear the trousers in the home, most of the time, i bet most of us guys wouldn’t like to admit it, but it’s often the case, and nothing wrong with that at all.  Now when it comes to choosing drapes, furniture, pretty much anything, well it’s mostly the women that rule the roost. We know this right? or are you living in denial?

This is beside the point, what i’m getting at is we struggle to keep anything of our own in the home these days, what happened to a man’s bat cave?  If we live in a large home then there may be a corner or even a room that is ours, but trust me when i say, if you don’t protect it, it wil get swamped with stuff that isn’t yours, i’ve seen it happen.

In a long winded way, i’m saying it’s time to take back something for ourselves, one way of doing this is to buy an iCade.  Have you heard about it? When I was younger I dreamed of having an arcade machine.  Well, now you can go Vintage and have a mini arcade machine gaming cabinet that houses your ipad and turns it into a fully fledged arcade machine, pretty gnarly dudes and dudettes (if you’ve read this far).  So why not check out the ION iCade now and read more about what it can do!

Choosing The Right Small Bathroom Designs

By Julianne  |  2011/11/07 14:37 Posted in Home Decor  |  Comments Off

A bathroom should contain all the needed elements while feelings comfortable and looking stylish, no matter what size is that you are working with. Dealing with a small area can sometimes be a challenge to any homeowner. However, with a little planning and the right small bathroom designs, your small bathroom can be just as functional as a larger one without giving up style.

Replacing Fixtures:
One of the quickest and easiest ways to get more room in a small bathroom is to replace your fixtures. Replacing your vanity with a pedestal type sink gives your bathroom much more floor space. Wall mount sinks are another option you may choose to save space. Many hardware stores offer a large selection of sinks for small bathrooms in many different styles and colors. Also, you may want to consider replacing your toilet. Some newer models of toilet or made smaller than the older model and take up a lot less floor space. If, the shower in your bathroom has a swinging door, you may consider replacing it with a sliding door or railing.

Wall Cabinets:
Attaching small cabinets to the walls are a great way to keep all of your personal items together. These cabinets are a great way to hide items while still having all necessities at hand. The idea is to keep everything organized and not take up any extra floor space.

Tricks With Mirrors:
Every bathroom should have a mirror. However, mirror are not only functional, but can make any small bathrooms appear larger, as well. A large mirror stretched along one wall looks great, or you can even arrange several in different shapes or sizes. The options are endless.

Using Light Colors:
When choosing your colors for decorating your small bathroom, think light shades of pastels. Try to avoid all dark colors that will only make it seem as though the walls are closing in on you. Solid colors without big, bold patterns work best in small areas. Although, if you must have a pattern for your bath, try to choose small prints. Tiny print wall paper with a soft colored background gives a very elegant and cozy feel to all small bathroom designs.

Clearing the Snow off the Driveway with a Snow Thrower

By O Symonds  |  2011/11/07 12:46 Posted in Blog  |  Comments Off

Well, it is getting to that time of year again when the cold weather is going to set in and more than likely, we are going to get more heavy snow.  Last year was really difficult for me because not only did he continue to snow but both my uncle and my father were bedridden for long periods of the winter.  This meant, that not only did I have to clear all the snow off my own driveway repeatedly, I also had to do the same thing at my mom and dad’s house and my uncle and aunt’s house so that my mom and my auntie could continue to go to work everyday. 

Like a fool, I did it all manually with a snow shovel, especially at the beginning of winter.  However, my uncles next neighbour had a Greenworks 26032 snow thrower and he let me have a go one day when were coming to the end of the snowy weather.

This snow thrower worked like a dream and saved so much hard work and effort that I promised myself I would invest in one this year, before the snow arrived.  It made life so much easier so that clearing snow from the drive every couple of days did not become a chore.  I am hoping that I will not have to do my mom and dad’s and my uncle and aunts again this year but I would definitely take round my new snow thrower so they can see just how easy it can be to move to snow.  I reckon that once they get their hands on it they will want to use it all the time. If they do, I will direct them over to Oslosa where they will be able to pick one up themselves!