Kids and Their Relationship With The Earth

While over at Beliefnet.com, I was reading an interesting article about how you can help your child become green and understand their relationship to the earth.

Anyone with children in their home, knows how busy the household is. There never seems to be enough time in a day to do everything. In most households where both parents work it is hard to fit everything in. You come home from work and need to do chores, make dinner, take care of homework etc.., there doesn't seem to be time left over before it's bedtime and then start over. Sound familiar?

Taking a few minutes each night or on the weekends to do the below suggestions, not only will improve the quality time with your kids, but you will be creating lasting memories.

* Have your child plant a seed or help with the garden. Have your kids nurture what they planted and watch it grow.

* Appreciate the beauty that surrounds you and/or listen to what you hear in nature. Stop and listen to the birds singing, look at the rain, the geese flying overhead, the lake, the sunsets.

* Plan a meal or two with your kids. Involve them in the meal preparation. Have them pick out some ingredients. Take them on a special shopping trip to the market.

* Try to have your child spend less time watching TV, being on the Internet or playing video games. Offer other interesting alternatives. Reading a book. Beliefnet.com offered the idea of reading 50 Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth

* Do some arts and crafts with your child. Use some old buttons and jewelry that you may have laying around.

* Have you ever had a simple conversation about the circle of life with your child? Explain nature. Why do the leaves turn colors? When do deer come out to feed?

* Feel great and be healthy. Be silly. Laugh. Dance around or sing. Do some stretching exercises.

* Make some memories by feeding the animals. Remember as a child you took the crust from the bread or the old bread mom wanted to throw away and you fed the birds? I have this memory. My grandmother and I used to hang out the window and throw the bread. We'd watch the birds hurry to eat it all.

* Get outside. Breathe the air. Do some outdoor activities. Walk the dog together.

How do you teach your children about the earth?

Remodel With Style

If you have been living in your home for quite some time, you may feel your bathroom needs updating, especially if you haven’t changed a thing since moving in. Do you still have the standard, boring white bathroom sinks, tub and toilet?

The bathroom is the most used room in the house. Changes to your bathroom can range from small remodeling projects to larger projects depending on your budget. Remodeling the bathroom will add value to your home, so if your thinking of selling and haven’t modernized the bathroom, this may be a project for you to think about. Will you see a return on your remodeling investment when you sell? You most likely will….it is said to be around 80-90% !

You can dress up your bathroom with small projects such as replacing Bathroom vanities or installing the perfect faucet. Replacing your old, outdated bathroom faucets will certainly be more pleasing to the eye and bring about change in the room. This is also a great do it yourself project and you will surely feel a sense of pride when the task is completed.

If you have a small bathroom, you can make more changes while staying within your budget because you have less area to remodel.

If you are looking for design ideas or need help planning your remodel, check out http://www.spacify.com/. The styles they offer are striking and you most likely have not seen these designs elsewhere. Their wide range of bathroom faucets can give your bathroom a modern and contemporary feel. They also offer single hole faucets too. I found their faucets, sinks and vanities are sleek and appealing. I was very impressed with the never before seen designs and workmanship.


Spacify offers modern contemporary,European and Italian designs plus retro designs, which will allow you to remodel with style as you personalize your bathroom to suit your taste and budget. You will certainly turn your bathroom into a work of art with the designs they offer.

Not looking to remodel your bathroom? At Spacify you can also find designs for your bedroom, living room and any other room in the house. Their how to guide and articles will sure help with any questions you may have.

If you are hesitant about buying online and spending extra money on shipping and handling, Spacify offers free shipping. Their site is easy to navigate and there are many topics of interest. From leather care to storage ideas to color schemes. I am sure you will find a topic you are interested in learning more about.

So visit Spacify and start planning your remodel.

Household Tips to Make Your Life Easier

Hallmark has a new movie coming out called Dear Prudence. Jane Seymour stars as a talk show host who gives out household advice.

Below are some tips from the movie about using everyday household products to make your life a bit easier.

Windshield Wiper Frost Free Fluid: When you have to leave your car outside overnight in the winter, mix 3 parts vinegar to 1 part water and coat the windows with this solution. This vinegar and water combination will keep windshields ice and frost-free.

To keep cut flowers fresher longer by mixing up a homemade formula. Mix 1 pint warm water, 1 pint lemonade or a lemon-lime soft drink. Pour enough into the vase to cover the lower three to four inches of the stem. Here's how this formula works: the sugar in the mixture supplies energy to the flowers and the citric acid in the lemon helps preserve them.

To keep buttons from dropping off: Dab a drop of clear nail polish onto the thread the secures the buttons. This will harden and make it more difficult for thread to break off.

To help new or just cleaned drapes stay fresh and crisp looking, spray them with a few coats of unscented hair spay before hanging them up. Allow the hair spray to dry between applications.

To speed drying time of big bulky items and jeans, add a dry towel to the wet items you're placing in the dryer. The towel will help absorb some of the excess moisture.

When you need to touch up a scratch or other type of blemish on a painted wall use a drop of paint on a cotton swab to fix the problem. You won't waste a bunch of paint and you won't have to waste time cleaning a paintbrush.

Instead of throwing away a sponge that has a stale odor, simply toss it in the dishwasher and wash it with the next load of dishes. It will come out clean and fresh smelling and will kill any bacteria in the sponge, so it's a good idea to toss your sponges into the dishwasher often.

For sharper scissors simply take your dull scissors and cut through three layers of tin foil ten times. Cut some paper to test. Repeat if not sharp enough for you. Or...cut a sheet of medium-grade sand paper into small pieces!

Make giant ice cubes in muffin tins or plastic margarine bowls. These are perfect for using in picnic coolers or punch bowls. They look pretty and keep your drinks or food cold longer.

Get rid of tarnish on silver the easy way, place a piece of aluminum foil (shiny side up) on the bottom of a glass bowl or pan. Fill the container with a solution made of 2 cups boiling water and 3 teaspoons of baking soda, and you've made an inexpensive "bath" to soak your silver in. Your silver will shine like new in no time!

To keep lint and dust off glass top tables, wash them in a solution of warm water and fabric softener. Add one tablespoon of liquid fabric softener to one quart of warm water. The fabric softener will clean the glass inexpensively and will help keep lint from gathering on the glass. Also great for computer screens and TVs.

Shape Up Your Garden and Your Body

Summer is coming to a close, but there is still more yard work that needs to be done. Pruning, weeding and getting your garden and lawn ready for the fall and winter is one way to get exercise in the privacy of your own home.

You don't think of gardening as a form of exercise? But, It sure is…It incorporates elements of exercise while relieving stress. Gardening has many health benefits. It contributes to healthy bones, muscles and joints. Digging, weeding, raking, trimming the shrubs and mowing the lawn can be equivalent to other physical activities such as walking, cycling, swimming and aerobics.

So, get outside, breath some fresh air and shape up your body as you shape up your garden and lawn.

Get Your Best Deals Now

Now is a great time to begin thinking about those home improvement projects you wanted to tackle, but didn't have the time or maybe it was just plain too hot to be outside working. It's also a good time to spruce up inside your home as well. The weather will be getting a bit cooler in the coming month, so you won't mind being outside working on home improvement projects or painting a room or two inside.

Although we might not be thinking it is the end of summer yet, but to retailers, it is the end of the season. Retailers need to get rid of their stock, so you can find great sales on all outdoor items and even home accessories for inside. From power tools to house paint and painting supplies to fans and air conditioning units...whatever you need to complete your project you can be sure you will find it on sale.

Shopping at shopwiki is the smart way to go. They offer buying guides and a complete list of every store available online, so you will always find what you are looking for at the best possible price. Why go from store to store looking for the best price or clinking on so many links, you forget where you started and can't remember where you saw the better price?

There at shopwiki, everything is in one place for you to search and compare. Don't wait until the last minute. Shop now, get your best deals and save money!

June is National Safety Month

Electric safety should be a priority in every home. Hundreds die and thousands are injured every year by accidents that could have been prevented.

The following safety checklists is for your whole home, your electrical panel, and your bedroom/living room areas.

Your Whole House

1. Do you limit your use of extension cords?
2. Do you read and follow manufacturers’ instructions for the products you purchase and use?
3. Are appliances—including heaters, lamps, radios, televisions and telephones—stored and used a safe distance away from bathtubs, hot tubs, sinks, and swimming pools?

Your Electrical Panel

1. Do you and all the adults in your home make sure your hands and the floor are dry before touching anything in your fuse or circuit breaker box?
2. Do you and the adults living in your home know to turn the main power switch off before changing a fuse (if your electrical panel is equipped with fuses, not breakers)?
3. If your electrical system uses fuses, do you have replacement UL-listed fuses of the correct current or amp rating on hand for emergencies?

Your Living Room and Bedrooms

1. In winter, are portable electric heaters placed at least three feet from upholstery, curtains, or other flammables?
2. When using an electric blanket, make sure it is in good condition... free from cracks or breaks in wiring, plugs, and connectors?
3. Do you always grasp the plug (not the cord) when unplugging electrical items?

Convert Your Car to Burn Water & Gas ?

Did you know that you can convert your car or truck to a water-burning vehicle (Water Hybrid)?

I came across this interesting article and with the prices of gas these days, who wouldn't want to do this and save a ton of money? Has anyone tried this method? If so, has it worked and was it very complicated?

Converting your car to burn water and gas is a Do-It-Yourself, affordable and simple technology.
Water is supplemental to gasoline or diesel fuel.It is said that you can double fuel economy and many more people said they have doubled or even tripled their mileage.

Too good to be true?

I don't know...it is said to be very simple to install and/or remove.

It's suppose to boost the performance of your vehicle while preventing smog and generate free energy in your car or truck.

You don't change your engine or computer. A quart-size (95O cc) container is placed somewhere under the hood. You fill it with dostilled water and a little bit of baking soda. The device gets vacuum and electricity (12 Volts) from the engine, and produces HHO gas (Hydrogen+Oxygen
The electrical connection is very simple - this company eliminated the need to use relays or any other complications. The device connects to the 12 Volts of your battery via the ignition switch, to prevent hydrogen production when the engine is off. The device is fuse protected and draws very little current, only 1-3 Amps. This could take 10 minutes or less to connect.

Well, if you are interested in converting your car to burn water and gas and save some money, check out it HERE.

Please let me know if you try this and how it works for you.

Decorating With LED Christmas Lights

As you disassemble your Christmas Tree and before you pack away the LED Christmas lights, think about the various other uses for them.

I am using them in my kitchen. On top of the hutch I have, I decorated it with ivy. Stealing the idea from my favorite local eatery, I have strung the lights through the ivy, creating a warmly lit, romantic area. A touch of Tuscany. Perfect for a romantic dinner and also useful as a night light in the kitchen. The cost to operate these lights is minimal.

The other places you can use these LED Christmas lights are accenting your landscape, outline the walkway, as decorative lighting when entertaining outdoors. String them through your trees, hang them on your deck when having parties. These lights add that special sparkle and create atmosphere. Your guests will love it.

I am sure you have seen these lights used at many businesses, including Restaurants and wedding halls. Why not bring this decorative idea into and around your home? Be creative and accent the interior of your home.

If you have an idea for the use of these lights or have already incorporated these LED Christmas lights into your decor, please leave a comment and share with us.

Smart Home Solutions

Remove Old Wallpaper
Combine equal parts of hot water and liquid fabric softener in a five gallon bucket. Pour into a tray. Using a paint roller, apply to the wall until it's saturated. Let sit for about 20 minutes, then carefully peel off. The water softens the wall covering and the fabric softener will break down the adhesive.

Spritz Away Soap Scum
To make your own shower cleaner and save money, combine 3 parts water to 1 part bleach in an empty spray bottle. Add 1 tbs. of white vinegar.
Vinegar will dissolve the soap deposits and the bleach will kill mildew and prevents it from forming again

Make Wood Furniture Shine
If you want to keep your unfinished wood pieces shining, combine 2 parts olive oil and one part lemon juice or white vinegar. Shake well Spritz onto furniture and let stand for about 2 minutes, then wipe off with a paper towel. The lemon juice/white vinegar acts like a cleaning agent while the oil brings out the wood's natural shine.

Lift oil based paint off skin
After painting, do you have speckles of paint left on your hands, arms and face? Use olive oil. It sure is more gentle on your skin than paint thinner or mineral oil. Moisten a cotton ball with a few drops of olive oil and rub it on the affected skin. The molecules in the olive oil will attract the molecules in the paint, so the splotches will come off easily.

Gloss Indoor Plant Leaves
Here's a florist's secret: Shine the surface of leaves by rubbing them with a paper towel dipped in olive oil

Budget Bathroom Makeover

Updating certain rooms in your house can add value to your home. The bathroom being one of those rooms.
Let's face it, the bathroom is one of the most used rooms within a house. Creating a comfortable and stylish bathroom is easy.

If a major bathroom remodel is not in your budget, by updating small aspects in the bathroom you can still have a valuable impact.
The key to your bathroom makeover is to pick one or two projects and budget around those. Replacing outdated plumbing fixtures with Moen faucets will change the appearance of the whole room.

Do you still have old outdated basic facets from the 70's? Nothing says old quicker than seeing those. Now, the options are endless. Choosing from waterfall to traditional fixtures, chrome, brass or a multitude of finishes.

Your makeover can include the tub and shower faucets as well, plus coordinating accessories. Shopping at facet.com you can be sure you will find exactly what you have in mind. The site offers a wide variety of products, fast delivery and the best prices. They have trained sales consultants ready to help with questions and offer ideas for bathroom makeovers.

Building Green

On October 15th - Blog Action Day, bloggers around the web will unite to put a single important issue on everyone's mind: Our Environment

I have already included several posts on this blog concerning our environment. From tips to save in your daily life to curb your carbon footprint to green news around the world.

Today's post is regarding tips for Building Green.

To determine how to incorporate green building you need to look at your goals. Is a family member sick or do you want to reduce your utility bills or are you just concerned with the state of our environment?

Don't overbuild~ Build to meet the needs of your family and this will reduce the cost of building and reduce the cost to operate and maintain your home. This will have an impact on your finances and the environment.

Design with minimal waste~ Building a house with 2 foot modules will help reduce waste. Most building materials are manufactured in two foot increments, so using value engineering will reduce the amount of material waste. Producing less waste on your building site, will reduce disposal costs. The National Association of Home Builders Research Center recommends framing 24 inches on center rather than 16 inches on center.This alone will save about 30% of the framing studs.

Placing the water heater and HVAC unit centrally in the home will reduce the amount of material needed to carry the best heat and water to its destination and will increase the efficiency of the units by reducing the amount of energy to get there.

Make homes efficient~ Designing to conserve resources during the life of the building is considered green. Use the maximum amount of insulation recommended for your geographic area. Use water saving features.

Use recycled or recyclable materials~

Build recycling centers in homes~

Find a green builder who use equipment software to test and simulate a building's performance. You can use the following resources to learn about green building programs, professional and incentives available:
www.eere.energy.gov/consumer
www.energystar.gov

Source: Business Education Guide

Preparing Your Home for the Winter Months

This morning waking up to the fall chill told me that summer is actually gone. Considering just last week I had the AC running for a few days as the temperature reached into the 80's.

Now that the cold weather is approaching, there are ways you should prepare your home for the winter months. This will aid in saving money on your energy bills.

Here's some tips:
1. Proper insulation could reduce your heating costs. Check the insulation in your attic, ceilings, basement walls and crawl spaces.

2. Install the winter storm windows and doors, replacing any screens

3. Inspect your windows, doors and the exterior of your home for any cracks or leaks. These need to be filled with caulk, patch repair or weather stripping. Any areas that might leak cold air should fixed.

4. Have your heating equipment checked before you begin to use it for the season. Does yours need a professional tune-up? This tune up will include an inspection for leaks, soot, rust, rot or any corroded electrical contract or frayed wires.

5. REMINDER: Replace your furnace filter in your heating unit. Clean filters help improve the quality of air flow and help lower your bills. It is recommended that disposal filters be replaced every month and a reusable filter be cleaned every other month.
How many of you forget to do this? DO this today! before you need to turn on your heat. I actually replaced mine yesterday. One job done...

Source: Coleman Heating and Air Conditioning

Time To Organize The Garage

With the colder months soon coming, I started to clean up around the yard. Putting the summer furniture away and the ornaments within the landscaping.

I also began cleaning out the garage. I'll soon want to put the car in the garage, but need to make room. My garage seems to end up as the catch all. Instead of putting an item away in it's proper place, I may get a tad lazy and everything just ends up in the garage.

I have decided once and for all to organize my garage so I have more space. My decision to install garage storage cabinets is probably the best idea. I can purchase an entire 10 piece unit and this will create a room within the garage. All my tools, rakes, shovels, the landscape ornaments, extra motor oil and even items like Christmas ornaments can be stored away. This unit comes with a large two door cabinet and I can even use this as an extension of my pantry. Instead of cluttering up the kitchen with extra paper towels, pot and pans I rarely use, I can store them in this large cabinet.

Actually I can't wait to begin this home project. As you know one project leads to another and I have a feeling not only is my garage going to be organized, so is my kitchen, and the closet that now holds my tools. I then won't be embarrassed when opening the garage door and have my neighbors think I'm so messy.

Mistakes by DIY'ers

Have you started a project at home and realized you made a mistake? Maybe you didn't take the correct measurements, did you skimp on supplies or even start something only to learn you didn't have the correct tools or supplies?

If this ever happened to you, you know these mistakes cost you time and money. Lots of it...And if you start a project without giving yourself the time needed, this not only creates a job not finished, but creates frustration and stress, which can lead to more mistakes.

Did you ever use the wrong paint? Paint can be a mini makeover and make a big difference to the look inside your home, so it's important to use the correct paint. Flat paint should only be used on ceilings, where satin finishes can be used in kitchens and bathrooms.

Learn about the top 10 mistakes DIY'ers make. Read the rest of the Bankrate.com article: Go Here