Tips For Creating The Perfect Backyard For Entertaining Guests

 

creating the perfect backyard

When the weather is on the up, we all want to head outside to soak up the rays and make the most of the warmer evenings. What better way to do this than with your nearest and dearest? A yard perfect for entertaining is almost like adding an extra room to your home. It should be comfortable, beautiful, entertaining, and full of great food  Just like any welcoming family home.  If you enjoy playing hostess, or you just think it’s time to give your outdoor space the love it deserves, here are some top tips for creating the perfect backyard for entertaining.

Define spaces

Just like any room in a home, a large open space lacks intimacy and comfort. The advice given to people with super spacious living rooms is to use textures, colors, flooring, and artwork to define separate spaces. These concepts allow people to relax in rooms within rooms.  It brings  a sense of intimacy to the space. The same rules apply to the garden.

Unlike with interior spaces, the sky is your limit when it comes to defining areas in your yard. You can add the illusion of outdoor ceilings using verandas, gazebos, and trestles. You can even introduce walls using tall bushes or climbing plants. The floorplan can be dictated by lawn, flowerbeds, patio paving, decking, swimming pools, and more. Unlike the floorplan of your home, which is almost completely dictated by the existing walls, the world is your oyster when it comes to your yard. When you start to break it down into different zones, the space becomes easier and more comfortable to use, and focal points are added.

Perfect the entertainment

When you’re entertaining guests, you want options. A bar for cocktails, a fire pit for toasting marshmallows and making delicious s’mores, a projector and screen for movie nights, and the list goes on. These forms of entertainment take the pressure off the host as people are able to take free reign over their evening, creating a more relaxed atmosphere. A fire pit or a projector are brilliantly adaptable, too. They make great entertainment for adult evenings, but the kids love them as well.

Add water

The use of water in a yard can add a whole new dimension, and brings many different options.  A hot tub is an amazing investment if you plan on holding smaller gatherings, especially for gardens in cooler climates. They’re relaxing, intimate, and luxurious.  No wonder so many people include them in their fantasy yard. A swimming pool is another amazing option, and great for use all summer long. They’re perfect for children’s parties, grown up parties, or just a morning swim. With so many options available, find a pool design which suits your yard and your needs. While they do require a bit of extra maintenance, they make a yard perfect for entertaining.

A water feature such as a fountain, waterfall, pond or rockery is also a beautiful addition to a garden. While it’s more decorative, the sound of trickling water adds a relaxing quality to the space, and it can create a great focal point for the garden.

 

backyard entertainment

Image Source

Level up your grilling area

Who doesn’t love barbecues? If your summer food is mostly grilled, and you eat on the deck most days in spring through summer, you need an outdoor kitchen. It’s purely about bringing added convenience to the process. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on fancy equipment, but adding a countertop for food preparation and resting plates, and even a gas burner hob on the side, can make your outdoor dining experience so much more relaxed, fun, and interesting.

If you want to go all out a refrigerator is the ultimate food (and beer) storage unit. You could even put in cupboard units for storing utensils and crockery, and a sink for washing up. Creating an outdoor kitchen is all about enhancing your grilling experience. It removes the need to run backward and forward between the yard and the kitchen and allows you to enjoy grilling more thoroughly. Make it as elaborate as you like, but one thing’s for sure: your guests will love it.

Make it beautiful

We all want to hang out in gorgeous spaces. A yard with all the best amenities, but with no beauty, doesn’t inspire relaxation and fun in the guests. The great thing about a garden room is that there are limitless options for how to make it beautiful. Water features, as previously mentioned, make amazing focal points and can be really relaxing too. Otherwise, plants and flowers, sculptures and art, mosaics, and beautiful furniture all add to the feeling of the space.

You can really individualize your yard, and remember: less definitely isn’t more. Embrace color, texture, and reflective surfaces. Choose flowers and plants which make you happy and add to the dynamics of the space. Remember that durable and low maintenance plants and accessories tend to be best, unless you want to spend time tending it frequently.

Create comfort

If your yard is uncomfortable then guests are uncomfortable too. Firstly, make sure it is easy to get around. People feel on edge when there isn’t a simple and straightforward route from one area of the garden to the other. This is also helped by well-marked pathways, and using the zoning technique previously mentioned to make obvious routes. Using fencing around water such as swimming pools and ponds will also help guests to feel comfortable when moving around.

Ensure there is always enough comfortable seating for the number of guests you are expecting. Choosing seating and tables in a durable material but with detachable cushions is the best way to get comfort as well as value for money on long-lasting furniture. If you plan to entertain guests during the daytime, creating options for shade is essential. Verandas, large trees, and parasols are perfect – they add depth and height to the yard, and also allow guests to shelter from the hot sun, if they prefer.

Perfect your lighting style

Last, add subtle lighting – a floodlight is a great security measure, but it’s far better for creating an atmosphere if you can turn it off while you’re entertaining. Fairy lights, solar powered lamps, and low voltage bulbs help to create a subtle, intimate, and magical backyard getaway after dark. So make sure you mix up different lighting in different areas.

Finally, we hope that you enjoyed our tips on creating the perfect backyard.  If you can’t implement them all, select a few.  Look for clearance or sale items to help cut costs.  Enjoy.

Sprucing Up Your Home In Spring

spring decorating tips

 

Spring has finally sprung unless storm Stella has caused a few problems for you.  In which case you have our condolences because you will have to wait a little longer.  Spring makes getting off your couch and out of your blankets easier.  It means sprucing up your home after spending all of winter hunkered down.  We have a few spring decorating tips to help you spruce up your home this spring.

Declutter

First, go room by room and start getting rid of things that you no longer use or need.  Either throw it away or donate it.  Put three bags in place – one for items that you plan to keep, one for things that will be donated, and a third for things to be trashed.  Lose as much sentimentality as you can.  And remember that if you haven’t looked at r used something in a few months, you probably won’t miss it.

The Outside Of Your Home

spring decorating tips

You’ve probably spent the whole winter hurrying to and from your car without taking much of a look at the outside of your home.  It’s time for that to change.  Take a good look at your back yard and see what you can do to make it a pleasant area for you to relax in this summer.  Furthermore, add  seasonal fruits and vegetables that you can grow yourself.  Also, make sure there’s a patch of shade where you can relax with a good book or without fear of sunburn.

Check out companies similar to www.treeservice-fortworth.com.  Look for companies who will help you cut back any errant branches.  Make sure that your yard looks neat and tidy.  Additionally, check for any paint cracking and peeling.  If found, pick new paint colors and start painting when the weather is warm enough.

Let The Light In

It’s time to turn off your heating and add a little natural warmth to your home.  Open curtains and let the sunlight flood in.  Not only will the natural light give you a little extra vitamin D, but it really will warm up your home.  If you have a pet cat, you’ll absolutely see it lounging in the pools of sunlight on the floor.  The only problem with filling your home with sunlight is that it might just illuminate  patches of dust.  Get out the duster, and remove any dirt and dust that has accumulated over the winter months.

Update Your Décor

spring decorating tips

Image

During the winter, we go for darker colors like red and green.  But spring is the time of new life, of rebirth and nature.  It’s time to ditch those Christmas colors and go for apple green, periwinkle blue and pale yellows.  You don’t have to redecorate your entire home, but why not buy some new art prints.  Paint an accent wall in a couple of your rooms.  You could also add new pillows and rugs to your living room in bright, fresh colors. Add a spring-like quality to your decor.  Finally, why don’t you add some plants? They’ll add some greenery to your home along with plenty of fresh clean air.

Finally, we hope that you enjoy our spring decorating tips, and will implement a few ideas into your décor.

5 Reasons You Should Not Loan Friends Money

 

reasons you should not loan friends money

 

Would you lend a friend $5,000?  How about $3,000? Frankly, I don’t think it’s wise to lend family or friends money.  I’ve loaned friends money twice in the pass.  However, I was repaid.  But, it wasn’t thousands of dollars like this request.  To be exact, I helped a friend out of a bad marriage.  Another time I helped a friend get back on her feet after she put her mother in a nursing home. The second friend tried to make it a habit, however, I ended that.

Why am I leery this time? Could it be because it’s a male or the size of the request? To be honest, I have a hard time with a men asking women for money. Especially large sums of money. So maybe it’s both. When he asked me to lend him the money, I really wanted to ask if he saw a Bank of Rhonda sign in my front yard. What irritates me is this person lives in a 4,000 square foot house, drives a luxury vehicle, but he is unable to pay his bills.  Furthermore, did I mention he took a vacation overseas?

Do you know the quote: “I don’t loan money because it causes amnesia.”  – Unknown  Yes, I love it and here’s a few other reasons why you should not loan friends money.  This includes family too:

1.  It’s rare that family or friends will repay the money – Friends and relatives believe that they really don’t have to pay you back because of the friendship or the fact that you’re family.  When you consider reasons why you should not loan friends money, remember this one.

2.  Help people don’t enable them – Offer to help the person with their finances rather than loaning them money. It may not be want they want, but it could be what they need.

3.  Loaning money can jeopardize your relationship – One of the biggest reasons you should not loan friends money is because it ends relationships if the money is not repaid. Assess whether your relationship is more important than the money.

4.  If the priorities are wrong, it won’t be a priority to repay you –  If you need more reasons to not loan friends money, think logically.  If a person is not paying bills timely or not being financially responsibility, you won’t be a priority either.

5. Your finances could be harmed –  One of the biggest reasons to not loan friends money is financial harm. You could use that money for emergencies or to have a saving for future hardships.

Most people can’t afford to loose money.  So, assess your relationship and decide whether money is worth ending your friendship over.  Friendships end because money is not repaid.  As  result, our reasons you should not loan friends money should be considered.

Football Game Referee Signals 101

Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on football game referee signals.  Learning or teaching other family members and friends the game can be rewarding.  You can become part of the game day conversation.  Game day and Super Bowl Sunday is a day filled with great food, family, friends, noise and lots of fun.  However, not everyone is a football enthusiast. But that doesn’t mean that they don’t want to be a part of the excitement and conversation.

 

 

football game referee signals

 

 

 

Women are more involved than ever when it comes to sports and game day.  As a matter of fact, Sarah Thomas became the first NFL female referee.  She was also the first woman to officiate a major college football game, the first to officiate a bowl game, and the first to officiate in a Big Ten stadium.  I love watching her and her daughter in the  Activia commercial too. 

I grow up in a house full of boys.  Baseball, football and basketball were a big part of my life.  Sports is huge in my family to this day. Now it’s our grandchildren who are playing, but the conversation remains the same.  Knowing the game is essential.  Understanding the basics can keep you in the game and a part of the conversation.  Learning the  positions and the NFL Referee Signals is a great place to start. There’s nothing better than being able to say Off Side, Face Mask or Clipping when someone asks what happened.

 

 

 

NFL Signals

        NFL Referee Signals 101

NFL Referee Signals 101

 

 

Football Game Referee Signals:

 

First Down – Each team has four attempts to move the ball 10 yards. Each attempt is called a down.  There’s first down, second down, third down, fourth down.  If a team gains ten yards or more on a play, the offensive will attempt another series of downs.  If the team doesn’t not gain 10 yards or more on the fourth down, the opposing team takes position of the ball at the spot where the fourth attempt failed.

Incomplete/No Good – Pass incomplete, penalty declined,  missed field goal, missed extra point

Offsides – A player is on the wrong side of the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped.  The line of scrimmage is the location of the ball.

Illegal Contact – A defensive player interferes with an offensive receiver more than 5 yards from the line of scrimmage.  The quarterback must still be in the pocket with the ball in his hands.

Facemask  – Tackling or trying to restrain a player by grabbing their face mask.  Usually a 15 yard penalty because of the possibility of an injury.

Interference – A player interferes with a receiver’s ability to make a fair attempt to catch the ball.

Ball Illegally Touched – An illegible receiver such as an offensive lineman catches a pass.

Holding – An offensive player uses his hands, arms, or any other part of his body to prevent a defensive player from tackling the ball carrier.

Loss of Down – The offensive team loses yardage on a play.

Pass Interference – A player interferes with another player’s opportunity to catch the ball.

Player Ejected From Game – Players from either team can be ejected from the game.  The coach or a member of the staff for unsportsman like conduct/personal fouls.  This can be for violent behavior or any other violation of the game rules.

Unsportsman Like Conduct – A non-contact foul by a player, coach or fan that usually involves insulting language or taunting the official.

Touch Down –  The ultimate goal.  Passing or carrying the ball into the end zone.

Too Many Men On The Field – More players are on the field than allowed.

Safety –  When a player is tackled/trapped in their end zone, the other team is awarded 2 points.  The trapped team kicks the ball from its own 20-yard line after the safety.

Tripping – An unsportsmanlike conduct that results in a ten yard penalty against the offending team.

Time Out – Three 2 minutes time outs are allow in each half of the game.

Personal Foul – Assessed after a play and can be called on either the offense or the defense team.  Roughing the kicker or passer, unnecessary roughness, clipping, tripping and clothesline are personal fouls.

We hope you will find our NFL Referee Signals helpful.  Check out our 20+ Mouth Watering Game Day Dips.

 

 

How To Keep Your Home Tidy and Save You Time

 

 

house cleaning tips

Having a hard time managing everything in your life?  You’ve likely got a family to run, a job, pets to walk, cooking, and at this time of year rushing around gift shopping.  After all, everyone wants to ensure Christmas lands with a bang.  The list goes on and on.  So, how do you balance everything?  If finances allow, hire external experts to do the job for you. They can help bring balance into your life and make the that you need.  Your home can benefit from their expertise and they can save you valuable time. Here are some great outsourcing options you should consider to make your life easier:

Hire A Window Cleaner

Cleaning the windows is a time consuming process.  Furthermore, sometimes getting to the upper floor windows is almost impossible. You can hire a local cleaning service for a monthly fee.  However, if you just want a one time cleaning, it is best to pay a one time payment.  This way your windows will be fine for the season, especially the top ones.  You can find window cleaners here.

Hire Someone To Cut The Lawn

It’s fairly easy to get a teenager or someone similar to cut the lawn.  For those of us who are proud of our yards and gardens, having the lawn cut incorrectly is not acceptable. If you are particular, you should consider professional lawn care. This will allow you to enjoy a cared for lawn, and gives you one less thing to worry about.

 

An Entry with a Beautiful Lawn and Colorful Garden

Source

 

Use Professional Power Washing Services

A professional power washer can make your home, patio and drive area look new again.  Power washing your home will remove dirt, mold, and mildew.  It also helps to preserve your driveway, walkway, porch and patio. It’s especially effective if you have color in your drive and it can save you a good day’s worth of work. You’ll only need it done once or twice a year, depending on how dirty it gets. When they’re there you could also ask the operative to give your car a quick wash, the power of the jet wash can remove grime missed in a car wash.

Employ Professional Cleaners

Hiring home cleaners can be extremely beneficial. Cleaning the house is what takes the most time. Usually families tend to have a big clean before Christmas so the house is ready for the decorations and scores of visiting friends and family.   If you have a hectic work schedule then this can be a great benefit to .  Decide if you want to make it a weekly thing.  If you don’t want the added expense you could consider doing it when you really need a break or more time.

Check around for the best prices, and work whatever service you need into your budget. Keeping your home tidy will free up time and give you a little energy for other things. It’s less expensive than you think.

House Cleaning Tips for Busy Moms

house cleaning tips

 

With kids to take care of, work at the office to do, a house to keep clean, and all of the other challenges life throws at you, you’re undoubtedly a busy mom.  Keeping up with it all the housecleaning can seem overwhelming sometimes.  However, by setting realistic expectations for yourself and utilizing these helpful tips, you can keep your home clean and organized:  

Keep Everything in Its Place:

Staying organized will help keep your house from becoming cluttered. Use laundry bins or small tubs to organize your child’s toys in his room.  Baskets are also useful for your cosmetics instead of spreading them out over your bathroom counter.  Laundry hampers in every bedroom will help keep dirty clothes off the floor.   Storage bins are great for organizing crafts and other projects.  Before you go to sleep each night, spend a few minutes putting everything back into its place. It will save you time later and help keep your home from becoming messy.  

Clean as You Go:

Setting aside enough time to clean your home from top to bottom isn’t always possible. One way to help keep your home clean is by putting things away and cleaning as you go.  Make your bed each day to help your bedroom look cleaner.  Put your clothes into the hamper or hang them back up when you take them off instead of tossing them onto the bed or the floor. Take a few minutes after each meal to wash the dishes instead of allowing them to pile up in the sink. This will make meal preparation and cleanup easier and faster.

 Have a Routine:

Having a regular routine will allow you to get things done more quickly.  Schedule your weekly chores for different days of the week so they don’t all pile up for you to do on the weekend.  For instance, do all of your vacuuming on Monday evening, all of your mopping on Tuesday evening, and clean your bathroom on Wednesday.  Doing one load of laundry each evening will keep your laundry from piling up as well.

 Enlist Help:

Make your children part of the team by giving them chores to do. Giving your children age-appropriate chores teaches them responsibility and helps you keep your home clean. Have young children put their toys away each night before they go to sleep. Older children can do the dishes after dinner, vacuum, or do laundry.  Remember to show your kids that you appreciate their help, and praise them for a job well done.  Chore charts are an excellent way to help keep them on track.  

Multitask:

When you can, clean your house while doing other things. When you’re talking on the phone, fold the laundry, do your dishes, or dust. Do a few dishes while you’re waiting for water to boil on the stove. Vacuum a room or clean your sink on a commercial break while you watch your favorite television show.  

Keep Cleaning Supplies Close:

Keeping your cleaning supplies close to you means you won’t have to spend time running to and from the cabinet underneath your kitchen sink, laundry room, or closet where you store them. You can fill small spray bottles with household cleaners, and store them in an apron you wear as you clean. Alternatively, you can put the household cleaners you need into a bucket or bin, and carry the bin with you from room to room. 

Cleaning your home can be a daunting task, especially when you’re a busy mom.  Following our house cleaning tips: cleaning as you go, enlisting help, staying organized, and multitasking can help you save time while keeping your home clean. 

Guest post by Maids by Trade, providing trusted and reliable house cleaning services across the United States for over 20 years.

A Squeaky Clean House Is Possible Even With Kids & Pets

a-squeaky-clean-house-is-possible

I know how important keeping a clean house is.  It’s not just about appearances; it’s about how it makes you feel.  Spending time in a place that’s a mess can have a big impact on your mood.  It can lead to feelings of stress and anxiety.  Furthermore, it can make you prone to feeling blue and can even lead to depression.  Your messy house can impact your mental health; however, a clean house is possible.

No home is always perfectly organized and clean.  Occasionally, the mess will take over. This is especially true when you have kids and pets sharing your home.  Kids pull toys out and don’t put them away.  They throw food and tread dirt through the house. Pets shed hair here, there and everywhere, and are also culprits of walking mud and dirt into the house.  However, just because you share your home with children and pets, doesn’t mean it’s impossible to keep it clean. You just need a good strategy.

Become a minimalist

If you want to make the process of keeping your home tidy a little easier, become a minimalist.  This means clearing out anything that you no longer want or need, and ensuring that your home is completely free from clutter.

The best way to go about doing this is to focus on one room at a time and then work through each area of the house.  Be ruthless.  Anything that hasn’t been used in over two months, you most probably don’t need. You can choose to sell your unwanted stuff, or you can donate it to charity.

Always keep your cleaning supplies stocked.  If you don’t have cleaning supplies you can’t have a clean house. It’s as simple as that. So it’s a good idea to stock up on your cleaning items so you can keep your home in shape.

Keep cleaning products that you use regularly stored.  Make sure that your cleaning products are out of reach of  little fingers or that it has a childproof lock on it.

clean house tips

Image Source


I
nvest in the right cleaning equipment

If you want to keep on top of chores, you need the right equipment. With the right pieces of equipment, having a clean house can be much quicker and easier.

The chances are that you already have a mop, but do you have a steam mop? Steam mops make cleaning so much simpler as there’s no need for a bucket of water or chemicals to clean the floor.  All you need is a small amount of water.  Steam mops clean with steam that can kill 99 percent of bacteria.  Fill them with water, plug them in, and clean the floor using the same motion as you would when vacuuming. You can get six-in-one steam mops that have different head attachments and can be used for all sorts of cleaning. From cleaning the windows to refreshing soft furnishings, and many other areas of the home. If you’re going to invest in a steam cleaner, it’s best to opt for a multifunctional design, so that you can use it for various chores.

A good vacuum cleaner is also a must for keeping your home clean. What is important to remember is that not all vacuum cleaners are equal.  Some are better than others. For instance, pet hair vacuum cleaners tend to have better suction and be more durable than normal vacuum cleaners.  Plus, if you’ve got pets that spread hair everywhere, they’re ideal for keeping on top of the problem. To learn more about this type of vacuum cleaner, read reviews of the best pet hair vacuum cleaners of 2016 online.

It may also be worth investing in a handheld vacuum to use when you need to quickly vacuum up small messes.  The great thing about handheld vacuums is that they’re just as powerful as normal ones but are ideal for spot cleaning.

squeaky clean house tips

Image Credit

 

Use containers to keep your home tidy 

Place containers around your home.  Store toys and other odds and ends.  This simple step will help  keep your home tidier.  To make it easier for kids to keep their toys neat, label each container with what belongs in them, such as ‘cars’ and ‘farm animals’. Use pictures if you’re children are too young to read.

Containers can also be used in the kitchen.  Containers can be kept in your cupboards as well as the in your fridge.  By having labeled containers, not only is it easier to keep things neat and tidy but it’s also easier to know where everything is.

Keep on top of the washing

Make sure you keep on top of the laundry.   If you get behind with your washing, it can be a nightmare to catch up with. Having piles of dirty laundry everywhere can make your home look a real mess. Keep all dirty clothes in a laundry bin.

It’s a good idea to have set days a week when you do the washing. This will ensure that you are able to keep on top of all the washing and don’t get behind with it.  Have a laundry basket for each family member.  Place each member’s folded clothing into their basket.  This makes putting the clean laundry away much easier.

Having a clean home when you have kids and pets can sometimes seem impossible, but the truth is it’s not. If you are smart about how you keep on top of a clean house and have a good strategy in place, it doesn’t have to be so much of a struggle.

 

5 Reasons For Food Storage

dried food storage tips

 

In the United States, most people do not think about needing to keep food on hand. We pick up grocery store items when we need them. Out of stock items annoy us.

Many people across the country have learned that there are instances when having a stash of food is necessary for survival. A supply of stored food may just mean the difference between life and death.

  • Natural Disasters – If you have ever been in a region that deals with hurricanes or blizzards, you know what it is like to see the empty shelves at the grocery store. People panic, they want to make sure they have food in the event they cannot get food for several days. Additionally, there are disasters you cannot plan on.  For example, earthquakes, tornados, and mudslides.  People panic because they have not properly prepared. Taking the time to set aside some non-perishable food, you can stave off the challenges of these natural disasters.
  • Evacuation – There are many reasons why you may be evacuated from your home. In a mass evacuation like what happens ahead of major hurricanes, you cannot count on neighboring communities to have enough food and supplies to accommodate the influx of evacuees. Keeping an emergency kit with 72 hours’ worth of food and water is critical during these times.
  • Unable To Leave Home – There are times when you may not be able to leave home. You may be sick or snowed in, so you will need to ensure you have enough food on hand to sustain you until you can get out again. 
  • Drop Or Loss Of Income – While everyone likes to think they are immune from a layoff or a drop in wages, the truth is everyone is at risk. If you do encounter a significant drop or loss of income, it can be scary.  It can leave you wondering how you are going to feed your family. Having a supply of food on hand is a great way to help reduce the stress during these very difficult times.
  • Interruption To Supply Chain – Natural disasters are not the only thing that can cause an interruption in the supply chain. Global events, worker strikes, transport company bankruptcies, and other challenges can all delay or prevent food from being delivered on time. If there is a disruption to the supply chain, this can cause local and regional panic.  Furthermore, this could affect the availability of grocery supplies.

Options for Preparation

There are two primary options for developing your storage  of food. Budget, time, and the number of people for whom you need to prepare food will influence which option is best for you.

Option 1: Prepackaged Food Storage – You can easily purchase prepackaged meals, similar to what would take on a camping or hiking trip. You can buy them individually or in a bulk bucket for easy storage. Prepackaged meals can last for up to 10 years, depending on the brand.  So there is little need to rotate your inventory or worry about it expiring.

Option 2: DIY Food Storage – You can also buy bulk food, and ration it out in simple recipes. The best foods for this kind of preparation include rice, dry beans, lentils, nuts and granola. You can also buy or make your own dehydrated food like jerky and dried fruit.

To store it, you will want to use a vacuum seal solution, such as foodsaver bags. This ensures your ingredients last longer. Creating smaller bags ensures you can easily grab a few days supply in the event you are evacuated.

No one wants to think about emergencies or the stress that comes along with them. However, taking some time and investing a little money into proper preparedness helps reduce that stress when these events occur.

 

About the Author: Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. She went to college at The Ohio State University where she studied communications. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and long walks in the park with her 3-year-old husky Snowball. Twitter: @LizzieWeakley  Facebook: facebook.com/lizzie.weakley

Tips for Home Security

home security

 

 

It’s mo surprise that more people are wondering how to secure their home. With things like burglary on the rise, you need to be able to protect your assets. However, not everyone has a fortune sitting in the bank for a state of the art security system.  Which is why I thought I would share some of the budget friendly options for home security without breaking the home.  Check out these tips:

Fencing

One of the biggest ways to deter anyone is catching them at the first hurdle. A great way to do this is by adding a fence. Thankfully, with things like chain link fencing you don’t have to worry about it costing you a small fortune. Fencing is one of the best ways to deter anyone from entering your property. Don’t make it easy on them.

Plants and Shrubs

If updating your fencing isn’t an option then you can still create a boundary to your home. You can do this by planting new bushes and shrubbery in your garden. These can be difficult to climb over or get around when planted strategically. You could consider high vertical hedges and bushes for the boundary, and then some smaller ones for your pathway and driveway.

Adding Your Own Security Cameras

A state of the art camera and alarm system could be quite pricey, but that doesn’t mean cameras are out of reach. You can purchase webcams that can link to an app downloaded on your phone on Ebay. Often a cheaper alternative, but still giving you a good level of security. Of course, you won’t have the benefits of an exterior security camera deterring anyone from entering. But it does allow you to keep 24 hour access to the interior of your home.

A Neighborhood Watch

A great way to improve the security of your whole community is to create a neighborhood watch.  A cost effective way of keeping your home secure is to have neighbor’s keep an eye on each other’s property. You could even put up signs warning that you have a neighborhood watch in place.  Again this can be enough to deter any opportunists from attempting to break into your home.

Using Common Sense

Sometimes we just need to use our own common sense to improve the security in our homes. Many doors and windows are installed with added security features. Windows often have a key lock and doors sometimes have double locks or extra security along the top and bottom.  When you leave your home, make sure the windows and doors are locked. Especially for long periods like vacations.

Lighting

Finally, You could add some exterior lighting to your home. Or keeping certain lamps on a timer switch. This is an easy way of making your home look occupied when it might not be. Many attempts of break in happen when the property is empty.  So giving the impression that someone is home could help you avoid any nasty issues in the future.

I hope this has provided you with some ideas on home security and the importance.  Most importantly, using our tips won’t break the bank.

 

 

 

Feel Like Royalty in BikeBandit Fashion

fashion and accessories for bikersIt’s been years since I been on the back of a motorcycle.  I loved riding years ago, but my bike riding was placed on the back burner when life happened.  The job, kid, house and other life events became a priority, and than fatigue set in.  I’ve dreamed about riding from time to time.  Seeing a motorcycle or hearing the sound of a Harley brings back memories.  I admire biker’s out for a Sunday afternoon ride or those who are taking a road trip.  I look forward to 3,000 bikers converging on our small town with police escorts yearly for Bike Night.

I’ve often thought about purchasing a leather jacket or a pair of motorcycle boots for my next ride too.  My skinny jeans would be the perfect accessory for the pair.  BikeBandit would be my go to for the boots, jacket and accessories.  Their leather jacket selection is huge.  They have hundreds of styles to choose from in a variety of sizes in ladies leather jackets.  I found the perfect jacket for my next ride.

womens-enchantress-jacketblk

Bikebandit’s Enchantress leather jacket is at the top of my list.  It’s every lady biker’s dream jacket, stylist and affordable.  For example, the jacket is made of top leather.  YKK  zippered sleeves for comfort put the icing on the cake.  I would wear a sleeveless shirt under the jacket in the summer, but a shirt under it in the spring, fall, and winter.  The removable, quilted and insulated liner makes the jacket a great investment.  The insulated liner can be inserted on cool mornings and evening rides.  Also, it can be removed on days when it heats up during the cooler weather or in the summer.

This jacket also has two sleeve and a back vent to help keep you cool on hot days. People often wonder why bikers wear leather in the summer.  They assume that the leather is hot and sticky.  Not so. These jackets are made to keep you warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather.

Because Bikebandit has a great selection of fashion and everything else relating to biking.  I recommend you head over now and grab your share of the bargains.