FUN EASTER CRAFT IDEAS

Embrace your artistic side this Easter with these simple craft ideas:

Easter mason jar

1. Remove the lid to your mason jar. Clean the exterior of the jar with rubbing alcohol to remove any residue.
2. Spray paint the jar with a pastel color of your choice. Allow jar to dry.
3. Use a small paintbrush and acrylic paint to draw on a bunny or chick face — eyes, and a beak or nose will do. Allow to dry.
4. Embellish the lip of your jar with twill or ribbon of your choice.
5. Use your jar as a flower vase or fill with treats!

Striped Easter eggs

1. Hard boil your eggs and cool them.
2. Fill a container large enough to submerge an egg in with water, then add a few drops of food coloring and 1 tsp white vinegar.
3. Wrap small rubber bands around your egg in striped or criss-crossing patterns. Bands should fit snugly but not too tight.
4. Dip the egg in your dye mixture until the desired color is achieved. Let dry on one side for 1 minute, then turn over and allow the other side to dry for 1 minute. Remove the rubber bands.
5. Optional: Wrap your dyed egg in new rubber bands and submerge in a different color for multicolored eggs.

Happy Easter!

PREPARING YOUR LAWN FOR SPRING - LAWN REPAIR

Depending on what part of the country you live in, your lawn may or may not be covered by snow. If it isn't and the weather has turned warmer, such as it does on the west coast of North America, it's time to get outside and assess your lawn's condition.

After a long winter, especially if you had a lot of snow, your lawn can be prone to many diseases. One of the most common found in spring is snow mold.

Snow mold is a type of fungus and a turf disease that damages or kills grass after snow melts, typically in late winter.
Its damage is usually concentrated in circles three to twelve inches in diameter, although yards may have many of these circles, sometimes to the point at which it becomes hard to differentiate between different circles.

The good news is that your lawn can be repaired so that it looks good all summer long. Here is what you have to do to restore your lawn to the lush green that it was last summer.

1. When the lawn is dry, and no more snow is present, use a iron rake and gently remove all dead thatch from your lawn. Don't worry if your lawn looks bare after doing this. It is perfectly normal.

2. Once all the dead grass or thatch has been removed, add a good quality starter fertilizer to your lawn. Use a hand spreader or push type lawn broadcast spreader to apply the starter fertilizer.

3. Now, add a good layer of grass seed to your lawn using the same lawn spreader you used to apply fertilizer. Be sure to get the right type of grass seed for your lawn. So, if your yard/lawn is in shade most of the day, get a full shade mix. If it is in full sun most of the day, use a full sun mix. And, finally, if your lawn is partly in sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon or vice versa, use a sun/shade mix. When applying your grass seed, be really generous with the seed and cover all your bare spots or better yet, your entire lawn if necessary.

4. Now apply a lot of compost over top of the lawn seed. Using a shovel or spade, flick the compost with your hand onto the lawn. Be sure to cover all of the seed and don't allow any of the seed to be exposed. Another good option, if you can't find or get compost, is to use lawn soil. Both compost and lawn soil can be purchased at any good garden center. Depending on how large your lawn is, you may need to use several bags. In any case, just as you did with the grass seed, be generous with the compost or lawn soil.

5. Once you followed the above steps, keep your newly renovated lawn moist every day for at least two weeks. A light misting with your garden hose is all you need. Don't water too much or your seed and soil will wash away. You just want to get the seed damp to the point where your compost or lawn soil turns a dark brown. Depending on your climate in your particular area, you may need to keep your lawn moist once or several times per day. Usually early morning and early evening are sufficient. However, if you live in a hot dry climate, and your spouse is usually home most of the day, a light misting several times a day may be necessary. In any case, don't allow the seed to dry out.

By following the above steps, your lawn in two to three weeks will once again be thick, green and healthy and ready for cutting. With good watering all summer long, your lawn will be the envy of the neighborhood.

THE DIRTIES ITEMS IN THE HOME AND HOW TO CLEAN THEM

Of course, one of the dirtiest objects in anyone’s home is the toilet. But, that’s not the only place where dirt and germs accumulate. Here are five other dirty places and suggestions for cleaning them.

1. Bath Towels - When you and your family dry off from your shower, your bath towel absorbs the water from your body. Then it sits all day breeding bacteria that thrive in warm, moist areas. Combat this issue by changing your bath towels out every two days and washing your dirty towels in hot water to kill anything living on them.

2. Shower Curtain - Shower curtains easily pick up bacteria the same way bath towels do. They also attract germs from the toilet if they are near each other. Clean your shower curtain by spraying it down with a bleach-based product. Spray the rings and rod, too. Also, when the shower curtain is beyond cleaning, replace it.

3. Doorknobs - Entryway and bathroom doorknobs are exposed to myriad germs daily. Thankfully, doorknobs are easy to clean. Wipe them down with antibacterial wipes regularly.

4. Window/Door Tracks - Window and door tracks are harbingers of dust and dirt. The grime that builds up can make you and your family ill. You can easily clean these areas by vacuuming out large pieces of debris and then spraying the stuck-on dirt with water, letting it loosen up and wiping it with a damp cloth.

5. Toothbrush Holders - Your toothbrush holder is likely teeming with germs and bacteria. Wash it with hot soapy water twice a week. If you can, run it through the dishwasher to ensure it gets clean and sterilized.

TURNING A BEDROOM INTO A LUX BEDROOM

For most of us, our bedroom is little more than a place to sleep and relax. However, just because it’s always been that way doesn’t mean that we have to settle for drab and dreary.

One trend that’s gaining steam these days is converting your current bedroom into a luxury suite (or something comparable). If you want to live like you’re renting a room at the Ritz, then you want to follow these tips.

Compartmentalize Your Activities Making your bedroom more functional is going to make it more luxurious. Add a gorgeous desk for working and a TV area for entertainment, and you’ll be living it up in no time.

Make it Chic Choose a color palette that is both luxurious and classy. Silver and gold can seem tacky, so choose muted shades that compliment each other.

Also, a brilliant and commanding headboard can instantly upgrade the look of your room without any other changes.

Light it Properly Finally, make sure that you have the right light to show off your designs. If it’s too washed out or yellow, then it will look drab and run down. Switch to brilliant LEDs and see the difference.

Choose Your Accents Wisely We already mentioned a headboard, but some elegant drapes can also make your room feel more royal. Being strategic with your furniture accessories is going to both keep you under budget and avoid doing too much with the space.

Are you ready to lux your bedroom? You’ll be impressed by the results, and the feeling of decadence will make you more confident in your surroundings.

5 SIMPLE STEPS FOR A BETTER HOME APPRAISAL

If you’re looking to refinance your home or possibly sell, you’ll need a killer appraisal. A bank will not refinance a home for more than it is worth, and a potential buyer will not pay more than the recognized value of the home.

Here are 5 simple steps for a better home appraisal.

1. Tidy your space. Make sure your yard looks well-groomed and the interior of your home is clean clutter-free. It is well worth the investment to have the home professionally cleaned and have your yard serviced.

2. Invest in the right types of renovations. Kitchens and bathrooms are the best types of renovations. They will typically provide 80% ROI. High-efficiency appliances and upgrades that improve the overall efficiency of the home are well worth the investment.

3. Document your upgrades. Provide the appraiser with a list and documentation of all upgrades, renovations, and improvements to the home.

4. Do your homework. Research and provide your own comparable valuations for similar properties in the area. Note your tone. You don’t want to come off as defensive but rather helpful.

5. Be available but not in the way. Be present to assist with the process but don’t be the appraiser’s shadow. You want to appear helpful, not nervous that he’ll find something wrong!

Appraisals can be helpful in increasing the sale of your home or assisting in refinancing your mortgage. Use these tips and you’ll get a better value for your home.

PREPARING YOUR LAWN FOR SPRING

In order to have a lush green lawn in summer, there are some things you need to do now.

In most parts of the country, spring will be arriving soon. When it does, and the last frost is over, it's time to get outside and assess your lawn's condition. 

Quite often, usually beginning in the fall and over the winter, your lawn can be and is often prone to disease. Most of the diseases your lawn can get are often caused by various fungal spores which reside in all lawn soil at all times.

Extreme weather or improper lawn care techniques can create conditions that foster the sudden growth of disease.

What Causes Lawn Disease?

Most fungal diseases occur because your lawn is in some way stressed. If you lawn is growing in compacted soil, or is cut too short, or you have excessive thatch in you lawn, this can make your lawn vulnerable to fungal diseases. Over- or under fertilizing and over watering can also encourage fungal disease problems. 

How to Detect

When your lawn has a fungal disease, it is usually quite obvious. Look for discoloration or dying of areas in your lawn. Because diseases strike stressed out grasses, be sure to inspect your lawn after extreme weather conditions, such as periods of drought, high humidity or excessive rain. You lawn should also be inspected for disease before and after seasonal changes, especially in the early spring and the fall.

How to Control

Not all diseases affect all grasses, nor do they affect grasses in the same manner. Controls vary. The key to controlling disease is preventing them by keeping your lawn healthy. If a disease strikes, move to control it quickly. If disease is a recurring problem or the lawn actually dies, reseed with a resistant variety or mix that resists several types of lawn diseases.

Preventing Lawn Diseases: Three Easy Ways

1. Aerate your lawn at least every three to five years to improve air circulation and the overall health of the grass. You can rent a lawn aerator at any equipment rental store or hire a lawn care specialist to do it for you.
2. Over seed your lawn with a new type of grass seed every five years to improve overall disease resistance.
3. Mow the grass no shorter than 2 inches and leave the clippings on teh lawn to reduce stress and add organic matter.

Remember, simple proper lawn care practices can discourage lawn disease problems in your lawn and allow you to have a lush green grass that will you will be proud of.