This is amazing and a must have for any home!
Friday Fun Video: Home Project Safety
If you are going to be tackling a DIY project, remember that your safety is the most important thing! Be prepared by watching this video.
Christmas Cactus: The Ultimate Guide
Growing up, my Grandma’s house always fascinated me. She had a collection of porcelain dolls that took up the entire top floor of her home, two gigantic, bear-sized golden retrievers, an old school wood stove, and about a million cactuses in all her windows (cacti?). The prettiest ones were her Christmas cacti, which we got to see bloom when we visited for Christmas. They have beautiful pink, red, or purple blossoms, and are pretty easy to take care of. (Plus, they last forever. She had the same ones for years and years!) If you want a quirky new plant, consider getting one of these! Check out this post by Garden Therapy at Ebay Guides for tips:
-Make sure it is in a well lit room, but out of direct sunlight.
-Water every 2-3 days, or once a week
-Use cactus/succulent soil mix for potting soil
Old House Makeover Tips
Is your home 30 years old, or older? Does it have old school features like wooden wall panels, bad carpeting, and accessories as old as the home itself? Then it may be time for an update. This post is not an in depth guide to renovation and repairs: most of this stuff is purely cosmetic. However, upgrading old appliances and décor, and giving a place a fresh new paint job s important to giving it new life! Check out these makeover tips for old houses by Virginia at Live Love DIY:
-Sand down wood on floors, walls, trim, and doors- prep it for painting
-Paint everything in white or neutral colors!
-Remove closet doors to create open spaces
-Paint old furniture and change out hardware
Amazing Curb Appeal Idea: Fix Your Porch Pillars
The posts on your porch, if you have them, are the most eye catching, yet also most neglected items that people have in their front yard. Large porches are a huge draw for buyers, but most people who actually have them rarely do much upkeep. Therefore, if your porch pillars are crumbly, old-fashioned, or just need some new life, you may want to consider updating them. Especially if you are going to sell soon! Check out this post by Flea Chic, which has some great before and after photos for inspiration!
DIY Toilet Spray
I’ve been seeing ads lately for the spray that you’re supposed to use before you use the toilet to prevent bad smells. I’m not sure if any of those products actually work, but if you have a chronically smelly bathroom, it could be worth a shot! However, some of them cost around $10. Personally, I think that’s a bit much to keep a bathroom from smelling like…well, a bathroom. That’s why I love this post by Karrie at Happy Money Saver. Here’s her recipe for “poo spray” that you can DIY for pennies:
1 tsp rubbing alcohol
30-40 drops of essential oil of choice- this time I used Lemongrass and Peppermint..
water
Pour rubbing alcohol in a 3 oz spray container and add essential oils. Add water to fill the container. Give it a good shake and you’re ready to go! I’ve found 3-4 sprays is enough to cover the bowl and trap all of the stink particles below.
Friday Fun Video: Flowers in Cold Weather
Follow these steps for a garden that flowers all year long!
Blinds Makeover
Don’t love the look of your old vinyl blinds, but can’t afford to buy a hundred dollar set of fancy new bamboo ones? We’ve got you covered. Check out these tips by Nanci at The Dollar Stretcher for updating your old blinds and bringing new life into your room. All you need is some vinegar, water, and spray paint for plastic in the color of your choice:
-Take all of the slats down, including the valance part. Wipe each blind with vinegar and water.
– Spray the blinds using two coats.
-Once the spray paint had dried, use a simple pearl glaze, and using a sponge roller, go over each blind to add some texture and soften the color.
Bat House DIY
Kick things up a notch and make your yard extra spooky this Halloween by adding a bat house! They attract bats to your yard, which eat mosquitoes and other pests. Bats are extremely beneficial to your garden and the environment- plus, they’re super cute! For instructions on how to build your own bat house, check out this post by mythbstr at Hubpages:
-They should be placed 10-20 feet off the ground, away from tree limbs.
-Edges of the bat house need to be properly caulked to seal against weather.
-The box should be painted a dark color to keep the inside warm
-The average sized bat house is about 2 feet tall by 1 foot wide. The depth can vary depending on the number of chambers it contains.
Grow Your Own Avocados
Personally, I’m not that huge a fan of avocados. I don’t like the weird, fleshy texture. However, they are amazingly healthy, and I do have a soft spot for fresh guacamole. The best part is, you don’t have to keep paying tons for organic avocados. If you want to grow your own, all you need is a pit and some time and patience. Check out this post by Dream Garden 101 for a photo tutorial:
- Eat an avocado (fun part)
- Clean-off the pit
- Suspend it over a dish of water with toothpicks (half-submerged)
- Wait 3 to 6 weeks for it to sprout