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Archive for August, 2010

If I had a nickel for every time I unplugged a toilet at my home, I’d be rich.  My family has a long tradition of plug and run (sort of like hit and run in a car accident).  They plug the toilet and then scram only for me to find the problem either by the aroma or the fact that a bathroom door is “always” shut, etc.  I’m not so sure why they do this and/or how they expect the situation to simply cure itself.  Anyway, partially to limit my plunging duties and partly to just give me more ideas I put together this list of 10 ways to deal with plugged up toilets.

1. The plunger.  Okay, so let’s start with what you would think the most obvious choice is, a garden-variety plunger.  I keep one right beside every toilet in the home yet it seems that this simple device is too much for the rest of the family to master.  So you just put the suction cup at the bottom over the opening at the bottom of the toilet bowl and you move the handle up and down making sure the suction cup stays in contact with the bowl at all times.  Okay, there… I said it again and will make my family read this a few more times.  Here is a great link if words aren’t enough: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-unclog-a-toilet-with-a-plunger.html.




2. Hot (not boiling) soapy water.  One thing that can often breakthrough a stubborn plug is some hot water with some mild dish soap in it.  This of course only works if the toilet is drained and NOT if it is already close to overflowing.  It is also recommended to turn off the water to the toilet before executing this remedy.  After putting the soapy water down the toilet (1-2 quarts or so should be fine), have your plunger ready to finish the job.  DO NOT BOIL THE WATER AS YOU MAY CRACK YOUR BOWL.




3. Bleach and powdered soap.  If you have a white toilet for sure, you can attempt to put 2-3 cups of bleach in along with 1 cup of powdered soap.  The chemical reaction of the soap and bleach should break up the clog.  If it doesn’t completely do the trick then you can use a plunger to finish the job.




4. Clothes hanger.  Another inexpensive way to unclog a toilet is to take a wire clothes hanger and straighten it out (however you can… use a wire cutter if you must but make sure the cut is very clean by crimping it if you can).  Then stick that down into the toilet and break up the materials that are plugging the toilet.  Once you feel you have it, flush the toilet.  Be careful though not to scratch or shatter the porcelain.




5. Rubber gloves.  This is not meant to be a joke or something to gross out anyone.  If you find yourself in a plugged situation and you have long rubber gloves that you use for cleaning then put them on and unplug the toilet with your hands.  I don’t recommend attempting this without protecting your hands but in any event make sure you wash your hands after with anti-bacterial soap.




6. Plastic soda bottle and water.  You can also try using an empty soda bottle (up to a 2-liter plastic bottle is fine) full of warm water to unclog a toilet.  With this technique you fill the plastic bottle with warm water and with a rubber glove or plastic bag on your hand you cover the opening of the bottle while inserting it into the clogged toilet near the opening in the bottom.  You then quickly squeeze the warm water out of the soda bottle to unclog the toilet.




7. 2-liters of Coca Cola (or even a couple of cans).  Okay, this tells you a little bit about one of the drinks that several of us love.  One way to clean toilets and also eat away at some blockages is to use Coca Cola.  Yes, a 2-liter bottle of regular Coke (Diet Coke also works) down the toilet can work wonders.  Let it sit for about 30 minutes and then flush.  This particular remedy only works on clogs due to human waste and will not work on clogs due to using too much toilet paper, etc.




8. A mop.  You can also take a garden variety house mop and either put a plastic bag over it OR be prepared for some serious cleaning after unclogging the toilet.  This works pretty much just like you would imagine.  You stick the mop down the toilet and turn the handle to swirl it.  That will normally break the clog as well.




9. A toilet brush.  You can also use a toilet brush or the handle on the toilet brush if you must to reach in and unplug a toilet.  This of course does not work on really stubborn clogs very well but it is something you can try if you don’t have the other items on the list.




10. Snake.  Okay we are not talking about taking your son’s pet snake and forcing it into the toilet.  You can go to any hardware store and pick up a snake to insert into your toilet and break up a blockage.  You do need to be careful to not crack or damage your toilet when you use these, but if you call a plumber expect that this is exactly what they will use (at least to start with).

There are lots of other creative solutions to unplugging a stubborn toilet but these are some of the easiest ways to get the job done that I know have worked in the past.  In order to avoid having repeat problems just be careful what you put down the toilet.  Limit paper products (no kids, you cannot wad up a full roll of toilet paper and flush it).  I do hope that these suggestions help you to avoid a major expense associated with calling a plumber to your home.  However, if none of the above things work that is exactly what you need to do (get professional help).

So imagine you just moved into a new home in the heat of Summer and have tons of expenses piling up and then of course, your central air conditioner gives out on you.  Wow!  Lucky you!  This actually has happened to me not once, but twice.  Depending on your personal financial situation and the nature of the actual problem with your cooling system this can be a nightmare.  I decided to research alternative ways of cooling a home and was actually shocked by just how many great ideas and articles that have been written on this subject.  After completing my research, I narrowed this list down to 10 ways to a cooler home without relying on a central air conditioner.

1. Fans, Fans, and more fans.  Okay so running ceiling fans counter clockwise and situating fans properly throughout your home can result in some nice wind tunnels that can really move air through your house and keep it a lot cooler.  In any event, at least the air won’t be stagnant which will help you feel cooler even if the temperature is not really impacted.  This is a great article to help you with properly setting up fans in your home: http://www.wikihow.com/Use-Window-Fans-for-Home-Cooling.




2. Control the use of appliances that generate heat (I mean all of them if possible).  Save running the washer and dryer, dishwasher, oven, and other appliances until late evening or early in the morning when it is still cooler outside (late at night is best).




3. Cover windows in general.  You can use window shades or drapes inside your home or apply a tint to your window to try and reduce the amount of sun that gets into your house.  Another way to cover windows is to install awnings or exterior/interior shutters over windows located on the South and West walls of your home.  You can get information on window tinting film here: http://www.windowtint.com/.  The quicker solutions here of course are shades, drapes, and other window coverings to help cool your home (use a bed sheet if you must).




4. Homemade cooling system #1.  Here is one idea that will work pretty much anywhere and will only cost about $40.  It’s a bare-bones system and will require some labor to keep it running but here’s a link to a video on lifehacker.com that will show you exactly how to build this system: http://lifehacker.com/5335024/how-to-build-a-diy-dorm+legal-ac.  I would recommend keeping ice in the water bucket at least as you start the day.




5. Homemade cooling system #2.  Here is a vastly improved approach to a homemade AC unit.  I think this one is pretty amazing as it uses an aquarium pump to keep the water circulating without you needing to swap buckets.  Here is a great article with pictures showing this cool invention: http://www.gmilburn.ca/2005/06/15/petes-homemade-air-conditioner/.




6. Homemade cooling system #3.  Okay and now for the one that I am going to work hard to try and build myself because I MUST see this bad boy in action.  It uses a radiator based approach to provide even greater cooling.  You can read all about it here: http://www.gmilburn.ca/2005/06/15/the-black-beauty/.  I like this unit because it is completely self maintaining.




7. Homemade cooling system #4.  We have to give people with a box fan some hope as well right.  This is another example of a very similar type of cooling system to #1-#3 but using a box fan.  In addition, there are some really good instructions to accompany this one.  It’s simple but equally effective: http://www.fiscalgeek.com/2009/07/homemade-air-conditione/.




8. Super inexpensive portable cooling system.  So if you aren’t the type of person that likes to tinker with homemade solutions, I found something that might be perfect for you especially if you are trying to cool a relatively small space.  This is basically a unit that fits on top of a garden-variety cooler like one you probably already have in your home or garage.  You can read more about this product here: http://www.jabetc.com/products/12-volt-portable-car-auto-air-conditioner-for-ice-chest.  You can go to your local hardware store and for under $2 get a converter to be able to plug this 12-volt unit into your wall.  Plus, you can take this little guy on the road with you for camping trips.  Now realistically you are only going to be able to cool a small room in your house with this but it’s an option worth trying.  I would definitely recommend covering all windows in that room as well of course.




9. Buy a portable air conditioning system.  There are several portable air conditioners/cooling systems available.  Most of these are also very easy to operate with only a drainage requirement (most people will hang a tube out of their window for drainage).  This online store provides some good information and a wide variety of products including window air conditioners if you want to go that route: http://www.portableairshop.com/.




10. Home warranty.  Okay so another very realistic way to take care of this whole situation without costing you much money at all (especially if you are buying a home) is to make a home warranty a part of your purchase that will cover your central air conditioning system.  Actually, I now do this on all homes that I purchase just in case I end up experiencing this a THIRD time.  With a home warranty, you usually pay a small trip fee (around $50) and then most repairs are covered.  I know a home warranty tip is actually cheating the article title some but honestly, it’s a GREAT option.  Here is a Wikipedia article on home warranties: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_warranty.

Whether you live in an area of the country with power grid problems (brownouts, blackouts, etc.) or you just want to be prepared for emergencies it’s good to look at the types of emergency power available.  Not too long ago I experienced a natural disaster that took out power to my home as well as several of my neighbors and friends.  Fortunately, I had a couple of alternate power sources available to me in a gas generator and a marine battery power inversion system.  I made it through the power outage without too much difficulty due to a little bit of advanced planning.  So I thought that I would outline 7 types of emergency power you might want to consider for your home below:

1. Standard batteries.  It’s always a good idea to keep an ample supply of various battery sizes.  I can tell you that right before and during a natural disaster these will be nearly impossible to find at any local store.  So make sure you have plenty of D, C, 9-volt, AA, and AAA batteries on hand.  This sounds so basic, but believe me you will feel like a genius when the time comes if you have these on hand (watch your expiration dates).




2. Kinetic energy products.  Another very basic but important way to conserve other power sources in an emergency is to purchase kinetic radios, flashlights, and other small products that you can power with your own body (walking, turning handles, etc.).  I like several of the products at http://www.ecogadgets.com and you may want to start there for some ideas.




3. Marine battery power inversion system.  Okay, this is a super simple way to get some really clean power that can run a few lights, fan, or even a super small fridge (depending on the inverter).  You need a marine deep cycle battery, a power inverter, and some power/extension cords.  I definitely recommend buying an inverter with attached cables to make life super easy on yourself (but you can make your own cables if you need to by visiting any auto parts store).  This site offers great information on how to use both marine and car battery power inverters: http://www.donrowe.com/inverters/inverter_faq.html.




4. Solar powered battery inversion system (DIY).  This is pretty much exactly the same as the marine battery power inversion system but you use a solar panel to charge the deep-cycle battery giving you a continuous power source.  You can get great instructions for this here: http://www.rain.org/~philfear/how2solar.html.




5. Solar power complete kits.  So let’s say you want a complete turnkey solar solution and are uncomfortable with having a deep-cycle battery around your home or garage.  You can easily purchase some great pre-made solar power solutions like the one’s found here for camping, mountain climbing, etc.: http://www.goal0.com/.  These look awesome and super easy to store and move around.




6. Gasoline or diesel generators.  This is the approach that I have currently.  I have a gasoline generator that is relatively easy and SUPER LOUD.  The only challenge with these generators is making sure you have enough fuel on hand to run them and generally speaking in emergencies gas and diesel fuel go pretty quickly.  They also need to be ran in a well-ventilated area (outside) to avoid dangers related to the fumes they produce.




7. LP generators. If I could afford one of these, I would absolutely have a natural gas generator (or solar system as noted below) as a backup for my home.  It’s obviously not a green solution but they are readily available and with a professional install can keep your whole home running like normal.  If you want complete home coverage this is an option you should consider.




8. Propane generators.  If you are in rural areas natural gas may just not be an option for you making the next choice a propane generator.  You can get information on both LP and propane generators at this site: http://www.poweredgenerators.com/propane/home.html.  Of course, they also have links to several dealers to help make this a reality for you.




9. Solar panel home systems.  So what I am talking about is really a solar panel based system to provide partial or full power to your entire home.  This is also a relatively expensive proposition but certainly is an effective way to keep your home powered in an emergency (coupled with year-round savings).  This site offers a review of 10 different home solar power products: http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/products/top-10-home-solar-power-products/.




10. Home wind turbines/generators.  This is closer to a complete power replacement system than it is purely an emergency use.  Most likely if you are investing in a wind turbine you are either VERY serious about green energy or you live in a remote area and just need a permanent alternate clean power source.  Here is an example page for homes and small businesses: http://www.bergey.com/.  There are plenty of other options so start searching and find yourself a good deal.

You can definitely invest a lot in various sources of emergency power.  It is important though before you go out and plunk down your hard-earned cash that you know close to how much power you are actually going to need to properly size your system.  How many appliances are you going to want to run and for how long?  Once you have that information you can calculate how many watts you will need and then purchase a system that can support your emergency needs.

A couple of weeks ago I was inundated with ads for Jay Shafer’s Tumbleweed Houses (http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com) and I have to tell you I became completely intrigued by the subject.  I found his tiny homes to be elegant and a really great idea.  I actually began dreaming of how cool it would be to have a tiny house of my own with no mortgage and none of the stuff that I really don’t need.  In addition, the utility bills would also be miniscule which is something I am always interested in but especially this time of the year.  Here are 10 tiny houses for simpler living that caught my eye:

1. I feel obligated to start with one of Jay’s Houses after all, he got me started on the quest in the first place.  The first one of his homes that caught my eye was the Epu which you can see in more detail here: http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/houses/epu/.  It is 89 square feet, which sounds ridiculous but when you see pictures of the interior you can see how elegant this home actually is (yes I said ELEGANT).  You can get this home ready made for just under $46K or you can build it yourself for under $20K.  This sounds like a lot but if you think about it, it’s probably less or not much more than 1 or 2 years of your current mortgage.



2. If the price of a TumbleWeed home has got you down, then you might want to take a look at http://tinyhouseforsale.com they have a cool looking cottage that they sell (pre-built) for just under $20K.  Of course, the base unit does not come with a kitchen ($1,500) or a bathroom ($2,500).  They explain that these make great cabins, home offices for your backyard, or even a nice guest house for visitors/in-laws.



3. As I read about the different ways to support sustainable living combined with ever-increasing levels of design and style I found myself being inspired by some homes/offices/cabins created by Modern Cabana http://www.moderncabana.com/MC_main.html.  That link is to their gallery where they have several designs below $20K.  With that said, most would need additional work to be usable as a home (plumbing and electrical work).  They are however beautiful examples and something that I could easily see putting in my backyard as an unbelievable home office.



4. There are some simpler solutions too that seem to be really environmentally friendly mostly due to reusing old shipping containers.  I dug around and found it fairly difficult to get people to make these for you at what seems like a reasonable price, but it is very easy to get design plans to build your own.  I was able to find a very creative home/cabin solution over at http://www.softstainless.com where he will build one for you for around $10K.  That’s some pretty inexpensive shelter for a moderate climate.  If you need insulation though, you are on your own for that (as well as for a toilet).  It’s super cool to me though take a look below:



5. What if you need something slightly larger?  I mean up to this point we are talking about some small homes.  The good news is that they are several small homes that most would consider tiny by today’s standards, but will also feel a bit more permanent (no wheels on this one).  One of my favorite small homes that I could definitely see myself living in on a permanent basis one day is the Loring also from TumbleWeed (see link above).  This home comes in two sizes the 261 and 356 square feet versions.  Both have space for a washer and dryer and it’s possible to put central A/C in both (a must for me).  The estimates for both of these houses come in under $31K which is a great deal for a perfect sized home (in my opinion).  Plus look at how beautiful this is:



6. Another small permanent home option was designed by Cusato Cottages, LLC.  All of their home plans are for sale at Lowes for $700 each.  The home that caught my eye was the KC 308 (308 square feet).  This home looks like another great permanent small residence.  The estimate for building this home is around $35K but as with all of the other homes this does not include the cost of land or site preparation costs.  Here’s a look at yet another great little home:



7. Okay these are all pretty traditional looking homes just on a tiny scale so how about something a little different?  I love this project and the website located at: http://www.caneloproject.com/pages/canelobuildings/cottage.html.  Now this home is being shown more for an idea than as a prefab home that you can easily buy.  You will need to build this and when you read further that it is constructed with straw, clay, and other similar materials you know it will be an adventure.  I can only imagine what it would be like to spend time in a home that you literally molded with your own hands.  Here’s a quick look at one example:



8. From an environmental perspective there are still a few things that have to be addressed in a tiny or big home and that is the need for power for lights, a refrigerator, a toaster oven or something to cook on.  There are lots of different answers to that including elaborate power inverters that utilize marine batteries to solar power.  One of my favorite solar tiny homes can be seen here: http://www.simplesolarhomesteading.com/.  This owner says he built his cabin for under $2K, but I’m sure that doesn’t include the cost of the solar panels and power inverter system that keeps his batteries charged.  Here’s a look at this clever 400 square foot home (which you can get plans for):



9. How about we take a look at a tiny cabin/home that is built completely out of recycled materials?  I cam across a GREAT site that I highly recommend for getting more tiny house inspiration here: http://www.tinygreencabins.com.  They offer some great models but I especially like the WildFlower cabin which starts at about $18K for 120 square feet and after you add all the extras bathroom, solar panels, etc. you can go as high as about $40K.  It’s not particularly inexpensive but it is a complete solution that would be a fantastic place to live and this cabin simply looks great:



10. Finally, I took a look at a site that offers some really cool almost storybook designs here: http://www.weecabins.com. These range is size from 150 square feet or so and up and they all will cost you around $25K as designed.  In addition, they offer you the ability to get a wee wee house (out house) to match your design.  Of course, that’s just awesome and something that I would definitely be interested in.  So I promised a storybook/fairy tale style, take look and tell me if you agree:

I have truly been inspired as I researched and wrote this article.  I knew that it would be fun to research tiny homes, but I really have a desire to get one at least for a vacation home on a lake somewhere close by.  I am incredibly compelled by living a simpler life free of the clutter by necessity and all done while making less of a carbon footprint.  It feels right to me and I’m positive that I would love it.  I think I’ll start though by making a visit to a tiny bed and breakfast or tiny cabin resort somewhere near me (I guess a new vacation research project just got started…).

Whether you just moved into a new house or you simply feel like doing something different for your wall colors, it can be an intimidating task to get started.  There are so many great samples at most paint stores that you can literally spend an hour just looking at various shades of green if you want.  However there are some general guidelines that you can and should consider in advance of making that trip to the paint or hardware store and I did my best to sort through them all and provide you with the 10 best tips for choosing the perfect paint color for your room:

1. Learn the color terminology (I know… ugghhhh).  So you will see ther term hue a lot (this is nothing more than what we normally refer to as the color – red is a hue).  The value of a hue is how light or dark it is.  Saturation refers to how dominant a hue is so going from red to pink makes the hue less dominant.  Intensity refers to the brilliance of a color and most importantly pure colors like red are more intense than mixed colors like yellow-green.  Okay, that was a terrible crash course, but you can read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.




2. Get to know the temperature of your colors.  For instance yellows, oranges, reds are warm colors.  While greens, blues, and purples are cooler colors.  More on this with the following tips…




3. Take a deep breath, it’s time to focus.  Okay, let’s think about the mood that you are going for in the room.  Is this a room that you want to relax and chill out in or one that you want to play games or watch TV in?  If you take the purpose of the room into consideration it can dictate whether you are going for soothing colors or more vibrant colors.  Generally the more active you want to be in the room the bolder you can and should go.  Also, the more you are likely to be in the room the tamer you should go with the color to avoid growing tired of it.




4. Survey the main furniture pieces (assuming they are staying in the room of course) as well as the color of the flooring assuming that is not easily changed.  If you have very distinctive carpet or furniture especially with strong fabric patterns then you will most likely want to use that as the centerpiece for the room and deck your walls with colors that complement the main colors in the fabric or flooring.  If you have a sample of the centerpiece take it to the store with you, if you don’t then you should at a minimum take a picture with you.




5. If you have a very large room that you want to make look a bit smaller, more defined then you will want to choose darker colors like a red or brown as that will make it seem more cozy.  If you have a mall room that you want to open up then you should use lighter colors like whites and pastels.




6. Know what colors go best with each other.  In general complementary colors are usually opposite of each other on the paint color wheels for the various vendors.  Of course most paint samples will have examples of recommended color combinations on them as well.  You might find this web-based tool handy as well: http://colorschemedesigner.com.




7. It’s important to test your color choices by buying small amounts of the paint and then trying it in the lighting of your home.  You might be surprised just how different the color can look when you get a little up on your wall.  This can get a little expensive, but it is a lot cheaper than throwing away several gallons of a color you later find out is “all wrong” for your room (or covering it up after you get sick of it).




8. Strongly consider the use of accent walls with complementary colors.  You might be shocked by how different a room can look if you pick an accent wall and make it a different color than the other 3 walls.  The accent wall normally is the wall opposite the entry way to the room (see the color wheel discussion above for choosing an accent color).




9. Sometimes the best ideas for paint color come from colors that you have seen in model homes or at a friend’s home and sometimes even your family can make good color choices.  If you see a room that you just love the color of, try to find out the details on the color (note: some people are paint snobs and won’t want to share with you).  You need the manufacturer as well as the name of the color if at all possible.




10. If you are wondering if the fabulous new color or colors that you have picked out will work with the rest of your house, one trick is to make sure that you keep the trim colors the same as the neighboring rooms as well as the ceiling color to keep that continuity from room-to-room.

So in the end these are just tips to try and help you make a decision on the right color(s) to paint your room that will stand the test of time (hopefully more than a few months).  In the end, of course it is 100% subjective and I think that is part of what makes it so much fun.  Happy painting!

We all have neighbors that we could really do without, right?  You know the people that I am talking about…  It might however surprise you that to someone else YOU are one of those people that they just can’t stand to have as a neighbor.  So, you might be wondering how you know if you are one such person.  Funny you should ask as I find myself in the same predicament.  So, after a bit of soul searching and digging in my memory I came up with the following 50 signs that you are a bad neighbor:

Pets – Nobody has an issue with you having a cat or dog, usually if something comes up it is more how you are taking care of the pet or not that becomes an issue like:

• You let your dog out of the house late at night or early in the morning and they bark a lot (and loudly).
• You let your dog out and don’t quickly let them back in so they scratch and scratch at your door (while barking loudly).
• You let your dog go to the bathroom in your yard and don’t clean up (so your yard is a mine field).
• You walk your pet but don’t keep them on a leash.
• You let your dog or cat roam the neighborhood (because “everyone loves them”).
• Your dog has a problem with biting yet you tie them up outside your home for extended time periods.
• You let your dog dig holes in your yard making it less than attractive which reflects on the neighborhood.
• Your dog is outside so much the grass is worn down from their chain dragging back and forth as they run and bark at people passing by.
• You don’t clean up after your dog when they go to the bathroom in your neighbor’s yard.
• You let your cat or dog fight with other pets in the neighborhood.

Kids – Who doesn’t love the sound of kids playing and having a good time in the neighborhood?  Well you might be surprised…  In general it’s not a problem but watch out if you allow one of the following:

• You let your kids TP or “egg” other houses in the neighborhood (yes, even if it is one of their “friends”).
• You let your kids run wild outside with no apparent adult supervision.
• You buy your kids three wheelers, go carts, mini bikes, and other loud and annoying toys and then let them go wherever they please as long as they stay close to home.
• You let your kids buy fireworks and allow every Saturday night to be the 4^th of July.
• You let your kids have lots of parties (even if it’s not on a school night).
• If you buy your child all the best toys and then they run around the neighborhood bragging to other kids (usually resulting in those kids pestering their parents for the same type of gifts).
• If you are constantly going to the neighbors asking them to support one of your child’s causes (brownies, cub scouts, school, band, sports teams, etc.).  Your neighbors don’t need so many magazines and candybars, give them a break!
• If your yard is the neighborhood football or baseball field…
• If you let your kids play basketball in the driveway late at night or early in the morning (especially on the weekends).
• If your kids leave toys in the neighbors yard all the time… eventually it gets old.

Yard – Everyone understands that working in the yard is not a lot of fun, but it is important to the overall look of the neighborhood.  You could find yourself in trouble with the neighbors if you do one of the following:

• You are always late mowing your yard so the grass is always long and always results in you needing to rake.
• You always mow your lawn late at night or early in the morning (in case you don’t get it… that also goes for trimming).
• In the Fall if you never rake your leaves because they will naturally decompose.
• If you don’t take care of dead grass or yellowing grass in your yard.
• If you let your bushes and trees die and never remove or replace them.
• If you park 10 cars in your backyard and run a private car dealership or junkyard (whichever you prefer to call it).
• If you let your yard get over-run by weeds (yes dandelions included they aren’t pretty yellow flowers).
• If you always water your yard (even after weeks of rain).
• If you feel that every inch of your yard must contain a pink flamingo or other “lawn ornament.”
• If you build the largest monstrosity of a swingset/clubhouse in your yard.

House – Just like with your yard there are basic expectations that need to be met with your home as well to keep you in good standing with the neighbors.  You could have issues if you…

• NEVER, ever wash your windows and it’s clear that they are covered in dirt and other grime.
• If you don’t keep your house paint looking decent (if it is chipping, repaint).
• If you paint your house the brightest of colors to be “different” you probably will be… forever “different.”
• If you never wash your house or if you don’t know what power washing your house is… you might have a problem.
• If you leave your Christmas lights on your house all year long, people will NOT admire your holiday spirit.
• If you in general always decorate for every single holiday and go “all out.”
• If you start a lot of home improvement projects, but never finish them.
• If you like to talk to neighbors about how much bigger/better your house is than their house (give us a break, we know you are awesome).
• If you always have a sign in your yard from a contractor working in your home (okay maybe it’s their trucks and the workers always being around).
• If your home alarm system goes off ALL THE TIME, you will eventually annoy your neighbors and they won’t come check on you.

Random – There are some other things that can make you a less-than-desirable neighbor that you may or may not appreciate knowing like:

• If you park an RV, boat, and five cars in a driveway that is meant for a max of 3 cars.
• If you ALWAYS park in the street right behind your neighbor’s driveway.
• If you have tons of parties at your house and all your friends park in the street blocking the neighborhood.
• If you have LOUD, I mean LOUD parties (even if they are rare).
• If you argue a lot with your spouse or yell at your children a lot it tends to make you less popular with the neighbors.
• If you like to pull pranks or practical jokes a lot on neighbors it could get old (flaming dog poo, etc.).
• If you feel the need to have campaign posters/yard signs up all year long, you will probably get negative feedback.
• If you burn leaves and or other things in your yard (who does that still, seriously…)
• If you have a yard sale or garage sale every week (that’s considered a retail shop at that point)
• If you sit outside and talk to EVERYONE that passes by, people may not find you as charming as you think they do.

HONORABLE MENTION – PEEPING IN NEIGHBOR’S WINDOWS IS NOT A PART OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH DUTIES!

There are lots of uses of the water that comes out of the taps in our homes.  We cook with it, we clean with it, and of course we hopefully drink plenty of it.  Water is something our bodies need but in many cases our home tap water also has contaminants that can be harmful to us.  So what is a homeowner to do?  It’s not practical to just buy bottled water for all of our cooking and drinking needs (nor is that necessarily water that is better for us) so we have to look for more realistic solutions.  Here are the 10 best tips that I could find for keeping your home drinking water safe:

1. The first step in choosing the right solution for you is to understand the current quality of your tap water.  What types of contaminants you find will dictate the best solution for you and it will also help you understand whether your water company (in most cases) is living up to their promises to provide you with safe drinking water.




2. If you live in a rural area and get your water from a well then you have several additional steps to take but you will still want to start with regularly testing the quality of your well water (monthly is best).  You have to watch for pesticides and chemicals that can easily get introduced into your water through their every day use.




3. Once you determine the quality of your water you have to determine how much of your water supply needs to be filtered or cleaned.  So if you are concerned about hard water stains in your bathroom, laundry, and dishes you may need to filter your whole home system.  You may also decide that you only want to provide one or two filtered taps in your home if you are only concerned about drinking water.




4. Refillable water bottles with built-in filters.  Several companies now make sports bottles and other types of water bottles that come with built-in filters to reduce bad taste and odor.  These are generally more expensive than other refillable water bottles but one of the least expensive ways to provide at least some filtered water at home (regardless of the water source).  NOTE: this is a very basic filter and should NOT be used with any source other than tap or possibly well water.  You can easily pick these up at any sporting goods or camping store.




5. Water filtration pitchers are a great way to filter more water than you can with just a water bottle.  In fact, I use a pitcher at home in combination with my water filtration system just because it is a convenient way to store more cold, filtered water in my fridge.  Please pay special attention to the proper way to clean these types of pitchers to keep them functioning properly.  You can pick these up at any of the major discount stores (Target, WalMart, etc.).




6. Water faucet filtration systems are attached directly to your tap to provide a steady stream of filtered water.  This is a super easy and simplistic filter system that works great as long as you keep it clean and/or replace it as need be (make sure you read the maintenance instructions that come with these).  These can be purchased at any hardware store (Lowes, Home Depot, Ace, etc.).




7. Refrigerator water filters are another very easy way to produce filtered water and ice.  Most refrigerators with ice makers, ice dispensers, and water dispensers come with built-in filters.  Make sure you know if your fridge has this capability before spending additional money on other filtration systems.  You can also add kits to existing refrigerators.  We highly recommend that you go to an appliance dealer to take care of or acquire these filters.




8. Rainsoft water filtration systems for the home and similar brands offer great peace of mind especially if you want to soften the water to your whole house in addition to your drinking water (they also do offer smaller under-sink filtration systems too).  I have had multiple Rainsoft units at various homes I have lived in and you can really tell the difference.  I highly recommend them even if filling them with rock salt every other month is a royal pain.  You can find out more information at:  http://www.rainsoft.com




9. Distilled water systems are shockingly controversial.  Basically these boil the water, it evaporates, and the vapor is condensed back into pure water.  Drinking some distilled water can be a great way to purge your system but most doctors recommend drinking it in moderation.   H2O Labs (http://www.h2olabs.com/) makes some affordable home water distillation systems but I have not personally tried them.  One interesting note is that most sodas (sugar or sugar free) are made with distilled water.




10. Stale water can also be dangerous so keep water fresh or store it properly (like in one of the containers mentioned above).  Water gets stale as some of the chemicals in the water are lost altering the taste and odor of the water.  In addition, stale water can collect bacteria especially if a person has already drank out of it.  It’s best to discard water that has been sitting for a while (think of it as recycling) or to run it back through your filtering or distilling system.

A roach sighting in your home can be described many different ways.  You might feel completely disgusted especially if you know how dirty and dangerous these home intruders truly are.  If you doubt they deserve their terrible reputation you may want to read up about them more here.  The sinking feeling is also the fact that if you see one in your home; you know there are more as they simply don’t travel alone.   It’s especially common to encounter this problem when you first move into a home whether it’s carried over from the previous inhabitants or especially if the home sat empty on the market for a while.  There are many sites that tell you how to treat a roach problem though I recommend pest control services (pretty much because I find roaches to be just too gross to deal with).  With that said, I do recommend the following 10 tips for a roach free home to hopefully help you avoid having to deal with removing these critters.

1. Take precautions when storing food in your cupboards and pantry.  Make sure you use containers that seal up tightly for cereal, chips, and other foods that roaches may be attracted to.




2. Clean up after spills immediately and don’t let dishes stack up on the counter or even in the sink.  I know we have all been guilty of this from time-to-time but it’s like setting out a buffet for roaches so don’t do it.




3. Seal garbage cans, sacks, bags.  If you can’t quickly get trash out of the house every day then you should make sure you have a sealed garbage can in your house to keep smells contained and the remains of dinner off the roaches radar.




4. Seal or block cracks in your home’s exterior.  Especially if you have a brick home with weep holes and other very standard building practices.  You need to be prepared to caulk or use foam to seal up all the roach entrances.




5. Bleach down the drains.  If you believe that roaches are starting to find their way into your home via a sink or drain then one of the best ways to treat this is to soak/flush them with ordinary bleach (something roaches can’t tolerate).  You also do want to fix any leaky faucets because roaches are definitely attracted to water.




6. Seal cracks inside your home too.  Cracks in walls and other types of openings provide roaches with shelter during the day.  If you eliminate their hiding places you might be able to get them to move on.  You certainly don’t want to allow or build more roach hotels inside your home.




7. Vacuum/Sweep the floors regularly.  This will pick up roach cuticle and eggs if they are there and that will help to reduce or nip an existing problem.  However, you will also pickup dropped food and other items that would attract roaches.




8. Use naphthalene balls in corners.  Basically what you are doing is using smells that roaches can’t stand to encourage them to stay away from your home so really anything pungent and intolerable to a roach (and not a human) is fair game.




9. Move debris from the exterior of the home.  If you have a pile of wood (for your fireplace) or other stacks on the perimeter of your home, try to find a place away from the house to store this material.  Basically, you want to remove hiding places and homes for roaches.




10. Trim shrubs, bushes, and other greenery outside the home to increase the amount of light and air circulation.  Remember roaches don’t like either so use that you your advantage.  Think of it as a warning to them that this is not a roach friendly home.

I truly hope that you never have to deal with the horror and grief of removing a roach problem from a home.  If you find you have a problem you should call a professional pest control company out to purge your home and then follow the tips above to keep roaches away for good.

Several of my friends are dropping their kids off at college for the first time and it’s very easy to see who is going to handle this life change well and who is going to be a complete train wreck.  It’s such an emotional roller coaster as you are excited for your children and having severe anxiety attacks with levels of worry that you didn’t even know you were capable of achieving.  Yep, that’s all 100% natural and all parents eventually go through it.  You have a baby that is now mostly grown up and leaving the nest.  It’s a critical time and you want to see them fly and not drop like a brick once they leave the nest (sorry, had to say it).  Step 1 is the big drop-off.  Here are 10 tips for dropping kids off at college for the first time.

1. Be there.  Don’t just help your child pack up the car and watch them drive off into the sunset.  This isn’t the movies… Go with your child and make sure that they get settled into their dorm/apartment so that you both are at ease.




2. Road trip.  If you can make it an experience and plan out stops on the drive that will be something that you and your child can hold onto for the challenging days that will be coming.  I can assure you that this is also a great way to create memories that will last a lifetime.  One last pre-empty nest trip.




3. Text messaging drills.  Ha, just kidding.  Text messaging is a great way to keep in touch with your child.  As you know they are capable of hundreds of messages per day so one or two more from you won’t be a bother at all.  Again, this is more about making yourself more available to them any way you can to help them with any decisions they may be facing.




4. Setup Skype.  Skype is a must-have.  Before they leave make sure they help you setup your camera and microphone at home (because you know they surely can do it faster than you).  When you get to school make sure they set their side up as well.  Skype is a great way to see their mug and to ease any homesick blues.




5. Schedule sync. Get familiar with their daily schedule and make sure they know where they need to go their first day to get off to a good start.  Also, keep them aware of your schedule too so they know the best times to contact you to get your undivided attention.




6. Groceries.  Make sure you start them off with an ample supply of soda (caffeine), coffee, bread, peanut butter, etc.  All the things you lived on when you were in college (less the beer – they are on their own for things like that and trust me… you don’t want to know).




7. Utilities.  If they are going to an apartment instead of a dorm make sure they have all of their utilities working and in their (or your) name.  So electricity, gas, telephone, cable tv, and INTERNET ACCESS (so vital).  In the dorms all of this should be taken care of for you so no worries.




8. Cash.  Just because they will no longer be home doesn’t mean that you can’t close down the ATM machine that is your wallet.  Make sure they have some cash and that you have worked out how much you are going to be sending them on a weekly or monthly basis so they can budget accordingly (do make them budget, it’s important).




9. Computer, Books, other Supplies.  They are there to get an education, right?  So make sure they have everything they need in order to get the most out of their time in school.  Leave them no excuses and make sure they have the supplies they need to succeed in school.




10. Emergency plans.  Make sure they know what to do in cases of an emergency be it medical, weather-related, fires, etc.  They need to know their health and property insurance information and should have access to an emergency fund (perhaps a refillable debit/credit card).

Well this list could go on and on… Just like you sometimes thought that their days at home with you would never end.  Well, the time has come and now I am sure you are wondering where all the years went.  This is a difficult and emotional time, but it’s one more memory that you need to do your best to truly cherish.

When you consider all of the trophies, old t-shirts, pictures and other collectibles that you’ve kept over the years, we all have a little pack rat in us. But, there is a distinct difference in keeping something that has sentimental value or serves a current purpose, rather than keeping tons of junk mail, scraps of yarn and toilet paper rolls that you’ll never use. Hoarding is a serious mental health disorder, in which people excessively collect items and are unable to throw them away. This compulsive act of saving everything, including animals, creates incredibly cramped, unsanitary and unlivable conditions for anyone under your roof. If you think you may be one of the millions of hoarders living in the U.S., check out these top 10 signs to see if you stack up with the rest:

1. You are unwilling to throw anything away

   If throwing away receipts, old newspapers, junk mail or last month’s dinner is a difficult task, you may be experiencing signs of hoarding. Hoarders find sentimental value in things that most people consider junk and would have no problem throwing out. The items can vary in age, quality, quantity and purpose, but one thing’s for sure; they aren’t going to throw it away. Some hoarders will buy brand new things and never use them, as well as hold on to seemingly useless items that are older than them. Even when hoarders try to clean up their mess, they struggle to actually throw anything away and get upset at the thought of losing their collection of stuff.




2. You hold on to items that are used, need repairs and have no real sentimental value

   From broken telephones, used stamps to burned-out light bulbs, hoarders will keep just about anything and everything they think they’ll use one day. If you find yourself collecting these useless items because you think you’ll need them or repair them one day, you too could be a hoarder. Many of your collectibles have no tangible value, but you will defend having something like an 8-year-old receipt because it marked a day in your life, even if you can’t remember what you purchased and why.




3. Your house is so cluttered that you cannot use the living areas for which they were designed

   If eating at your kitchen table or sitting on your couch is an unimaginable idea because of the amount of clutter taking over these living areas, you may be a hoarder. Hoarders will use countertops, sinks, stoves, garages, stairways and other indoor or outdoor spaces to store their clutter, making it impossible to use appliances and sit down in what should be a gathering area.




4. You struggle to accomplish basic activities

   If you find yourself struggling to do basic, everyday tasks, such as showering, cleaning, cooking and exercising because the clutter and state of your home prevents you from doing so, you may be a hoarder. Hoarders become prisoners of their own homes, unable to do normal activities because they cannot move and function among the clutter. Therefore, basic hygiene and cleaning fall to the wayside.




5. You are unable to return borrowed items and steal

   A common trait among hoarders is borrowing items and never returning them because you can’t find them or are reluctant to let go of it, even though it’s not yours. Hoarders may also resort to stealing so they can add more things to their collection. If you’re unable to give borrowed items back or are stealing things that will add to your clutter, you may be a hoarder.




6. You avoid having maintenance, pest control and repair workers come to your home

   If you have a leaky faucet, a rodent problem or need the cable guy to install something, but won’t do anything about it because you are afraid to let them inside your house, you may be a hoarder. Hoarders avoid having workers over out of embarrassment or fear that their stuff will fall on someone. Also, hoarders may be afraid of workers calling the health department, The Humane Society or child and adult protective services to report their unsanitary home. Instead, they will avoid having services done and let problems worsen.




7. You don’t have visitors over to your house

   If inviting people over is something you’d never do because of the state of your home, you may be a hoarder. Hoarders tend to live an isolated life because they are prisoners of their home, and they like to keep it that way. Hoarders don’t have visitors over because of the embarrassment they feel when people see their clutter. In addition to the embarrassment, hoarders are putting themselves, family members, roommates, pets and visitors at risk for disease, illness and other health problems.




8. Your cluttered home leaves you immobile

   When magazines have reached the ceiling and the trash has grown mountain-high, it leaves very little room for actually moving around your house. There are often narrow walkways through the stacks of clutter, but most of the rooms are filled to their capacity and completely unlivable. This kind of immobility is hazardous to your health and could lead to obesity if you are unable to move around your house.




9. You feel distress, anger and anxiety about letting go of your possessions

   Compulsive hoarding is considered an anxiety disorder that often correlates with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention-deficit disorder (ADD). Those who hoard may have trouble with making decisions, procrastinating, perfectionism and staying focused long enough to organize their house, while continuing to add things to the collection just in case you need it one day. If you feel distress, anger or anxiety about letting go of your possessions and feel the safest when you are surrounded by your belongings, you may be a hoarder.




10. You collect dozens of animals

    If you find yourself collecting more than the average number of pets and are unable to provide the minimum amount of care for your pets, you may be a hoarder. Hoarding animals is a serious type of animal cruelty because owners are imprisoning hundreds of animals at a time, and neglecting them of proper nutrition, sanitation, shelter and veterinary care. This mistreatment can lead to starvation, illness and death, as well as infestation of insects, rodents and very unsanitary conditions.