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The Importance of Pink Tools: Why No One Will Steal Them
My husband works outdoors in construction and anyone that does so will completely understand a shared dilemma: unless it’s nailed down, someone will come along and take your tools. This goes for standard tools, tool boxes, extension cords, and anything else that might be left unchecked. If you are like us, you also have a garage filled with tools that also mysteriously disappear. This could be from a neighbor, a son or daughter or just ‘tool elves’. My husband was getting tired of constantly replacing tools and extension cords, both at home and on the job site. While his company...
Creating Your Own Custom Closet
When we decided to take on the project of transforming our smaller walk-in closet to a customized look, the first thing that we did was to investigate the ‘professional’ companies. We were shocked at the over $5,000 price that it would cost to make this change, and decided that we could do this on our own. The results were gorgeous and the cost was around $1,000. We had those ugly white coated wire frame shelves around the top of the closet that held metal bars to hang clothes. The first thing we did was empty out the closet (which was...
Coloring Concrete: A Unique Alternative to the Gray Slab
Many homeowners run into the problem of concrete, whether indoor or outdoor, and think of it as an eye sore. If you don’t have the money to rip up concrete to replace, traditional ways of hiding or changing it don’t leave you with many options. Coloring concrete is a fairly easy and cost effective way to revitalize old concrete or bring ugly concrete new life. There are a variety of stains you can use, each offering a different design and “life span” of color. Liquid Acetone Dyes: Unlike powder acetone dyes, liquid acetone dyes are UV-stable, which means they can...
Fairy Gardens: Teaching Commitment to Children
Gardening is a great solo-therapy, getting away from stresses and problems to create pieces of art, collections of flowers and beds of vegetables. Gardening is also a great way to bond with kids whether they are family or friends, but it isn’t always an easy task getting them engaged. Generally speaking, kids do not have the attention span to dedicate to gardening, especially maintaining one. However, gardening with children presents a unique opportunity to teach them about commitment and responsibility. Creating fairy gardens teaches children the importance of checking on the garden regularly and long-term commitment. Fairy gardens were first...
Creating a Themed Garden
When starting with a fresh plot of land or renovating an old one, the possibilities are endless with the theme and decor you can use in your garden. Consider creating a theme or themes throughout your outdoor living space to personalize your space and to fit your needs. Your theme can be based on imagination, life or function. If you are a pizza lover, create a garden that grows the ingredients to homemade sauce and toppings for pizza. Love red? Plant red vegetation and flowers with an accent color to balance. Color themed gardens present a unique style from the...