Are You Prepared for a Big Storm This Winter?

Your home is prepared and your car is ready to go with snow tires. However, if there is a big snow storm that lasts for several days, how prepared are you and your family? The weather is unpredictable and, if you wait to prepare for a storm when you hear about it, you and your family could be left in the dark. By preparing ahead of time, you are ensuring the safety of yourself and your family.

Water and Food During the winter months, you will want to keep several gallons of water and extra food on hand for emergencies. For each family member, you should count on at least a gallon of water each day. If you have a family of four, consider having at least twenty gallons on hand for emergency use, or maybe a little extra for necessities like flushing the toilet. As for food, be sure that you have several days’ worth of food. Canned food is often best, as you can heat it on the grill if you are without power. You must also think of storing extra food for your pets during this time as well.

Batteries Flashlights are only good as long as the batteries last. Stocking up on batteries is a must if you don’t want to be left in the dark. Be sure that each family member has their own flashlight for emergencies only. These should be kept out of reach for everyday usage, but close enough to get to in an actual emergency situation. If you have a battery operated radio, but sure that you plan on stocking enough for the radio as you will want to keep updated about the storm.

Heat Source If you do not have a generator, consider an alternative source of heat to use when you are without power. Many people hire a professional to install a wood stove in their home, but this must first be approved through your insurance company. The important thing to remember is that safety is a must. Many types of heaters can put you and your family at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning, so always be sure that the source of heating that you are using is safe. The best investment may be the generator that you have been putting off.

Winter often brings large storms that can knock out the power. By keeping the above things in mind, you and your family will be safe and warm.

Holiday Window Decoration Ideas

When it comes time to decorate for the holidays, be it Halloween, Christmas, or anything else your family may celebrate, there’s a lot that has to go into it around the house - but have you considered your windows? Whether you have new vinyl windows or the windows that came with your home, there’s plenty of ways to make your windows just as festive as the rest of your home.

Stickers and Clings You probably haven’t thought about these since you were a little kid, but there’s still plenty of options out there for easy, removable window clings to help get you in the holiday spirit! Holiday- or party-themed retailers will offer a wide variety of vinyl static-based window clings that will hold tight to your windows through the whole season without any mess or cleanup!

Window Paint Or if you prefer something a little more personalized, there’s plenty of options to paint directly on the window! Tempera paint provides a safe and easy to clean option for painting directly on the window pane, allowing you to paint pumpkins, turkeys, Santa Claus, or anything else you want directly on the window for a more personalized look - and you can wash them right off when you’re done! This might be a fun project for the kids to get in on to help them feel like they’ve had a hand in the decorations!

Repurpose Other Decorations or Items Why stop at just using items intended for windows? Depending on the shape and layout of your windows and the rooms they hang in, you can take other decorations and re-use them on your windows instead. String garland and Christmas tree ornaments along the tops of your window panes, or re-use holiday-themed table settings to create impromptu window treatments.

Don’t just stop here - there’s plenty of decorations that you can use to make your windows just as festive and decorated as the rest of your home during the holiday seasons!

Tips to Use Storage Space in a Small Kitchen

Living with a small kitchen can be tough. Countertops can become overcrowded, which leaves less room for food preparation. However, there is a solution for homeowners as most kitchens do not take advantage of the vertical space. The following are some tips to help you organize and decorate using the vertical space in your own kitchen: Floating Shelves Floating shelves can be placed almost anywhere in your kitchen, including on the sides of cabinets. Those that are closest to your workspace can hold items that you normally place on your countertops. This will free up that space for your food prep.

Vertical Wall-Mounted Spice Rack For those who love to use spices in their cooking, finding the right spice in an overcrowded cabinet can be tough. Instead, place a vertical wall-mounted spice rack on the wall in your kitchen. Not only will it help you to stay organized, it may just give you more inspiration when cooking.

Wire Shelves in Cupboards If you look in your cupboards, you will most likely find a lot of wasted space above the area where your items are stored. If you place wire shelves in your cupboards, you can store two or three times as many items inside and it will give you the opportunity to be more organized.

Hanging Pot Rack To free up some of your cupboard space, consider hanging a large pot rack above the island in your kitchen. This will get your pots and pans organized and can put everything you need to cook a fabulous meal right in front of you.

Unused Window Space Another way to organize your kitchen is to place a tool rack horizontally in front of your window. This rack can hold your kitchen tools, like spatulas and spoons, and provide you with more space. It can also help to create the atmosphere you want for your kitchen by placing your most useful tools in sight while still allowing the view through your window.

A small kitchen is not hard to live with when you factor in the vertical space that is available. It is simply a matter of using your own imagination to figure out the best way to utilize it.

Tips for a Less Stressful Renovation

The renovation of your home is going to cause you a lot of stress, whether you live in your home during the renovation or not. Dealing with contractors is not always easy, especially when you do not understand the length of time that it takes to do certain projects. However, the following tips are a great way to help you to eliminate some of the stress that comes with renovating your home: Create a Budget for the Renovation Before you hire a contractor, you must determine exactly how much money you have to spend on the renovation. The money will need to be divided between materials and labor. You also need to have a small amount set aside for unplanned expenses. They will come up and, being prepared for them, will reduce your stress greatly.

Hire a Contractor You Trust Hiring the right contractor is crucial in reducing a potentially stressful remodel job. You must find one that you can trust to get the job done right while staying on budget. Before you hire anyone, be sure to interview several contractors after checking their references and work experience.

Create a Communication Plan Many homeowners get stressed when they don’t know what is happening with every little detail of the renovation. Prior to the start of renovation, create a communication plan between you and your contractor. Whether you keep a project detail book at the home or you communicate through email, it will help to keep you calm and can keep you from wasting your contractor’s valuable time.

Be Realistic and Patient The hardest part for any homeowner is being realistic and patient through the renovation process. You may not have a complete understanding how much time it takes to put in walls or flooring, but your contractor does. It may be hard to be patient during this process, but it is a must if you want to get through it with your own sanity intact.

The renovation process is not an easy one to go through, but the homeowner can take the above steps to reduce some of the stress. If you have not made any plans to move out during the renovation, it may be something you need to consider. Trying to live in your home while it is being worked on is going to add more stress. If it is possible, find another place to stay while your home is being worked on. It will benefit you and your family greatly.

Real Wood VS Laminate Flooring: Which Is Right for Your Home?

When it comes to flooring, carpet is out and wood is in. The fact is that the people in today’s world understand just home many contaminants and allergens can get trapped in carpet and the concern for their health trumps comfort. However, there are several types of flooring to consider, including real wood floors and laminate flooring. Before making a decision, there are several factors that must be considered. Price The cost of laminate flooring is much less than real hardwood flooring. The high cost of hardwood takes into account that real trees are being cut down. Also, as it is more time consuming to install than laminate flooring, even the installation charges will be higher. When budget is a large concern, laminate flooring may be the right decision.

Durability Laminate flooring is made from composite wood that is pressed together and it is very sturdy. In fact, laminate floor is almost scratch-proof and it is moisture-resistant. On the other hand, hardwood flooring is easily scratched and will get warped if there is too much moisture. However, hardwood flooring looks beautiful in any home, while many types of laminate flooring look like the fake that it is.

Maintenance Laminate floors are simple to maintain, but if it does get damaged, it is extremely difficult to replace. You may only have one or two places that need repair, but it could require the whole floor coming up to replace those areas. Hardwood floors are extremely easy to maintain. They may need to be sanded down and refinished every so often, but the floors themselves will last for many years to come.

Regardless of your choice in laminate or real hardwood flooring, you will find that your home will feel complete when they are installed. Both types of flooring will add value to your home and give it the appeal you desire.