Well, autumn is almost here. How can you tell? Stores are out there promoting Halloween already. And, sure, the fiery colors of autumn leaves may herald in the passing of the season, but so can the onslaught of pumpkin-spiced drinks, coffees, cakes, desserts, and … yes … even pumpkin-spiced air fresheners. Why does this matter to you? If you’re a homeowner, simply relaxing as the cool breezes of fall wash over you is not necessarily a time […]
Tips
September 16, 2019
According to the American Pet Products Association, Americans will spend an estimated $75.38 BILLION on their pets this year. That covers food, medicine, vet care, live animal purchases, and other services. It’s a good thing we don’t need to send our pets to college and incur those kinds of academic costs. Oh wait, we stand corrected. It really shouldn’t come as a surprise that we’re spending so much on our pets. In fact, we suspect […]
September 2, 2019
Should you buy a fixer-upper? That depends. If you’re willing to live in the Waco, Texas area and somehow score Chip and Joanna Gaines from HGTV’s Fixer Upper program to recreate your home, it may be a no-brainer. But for the rest of us, buying a fixer-upper is a decision that needs to be clearly thought through before making such a commitment. Why Do You Want to Buy a Fixer Upper? There are a few reasons […]
August 13, 2019
Depending on where you live, your seasons probably look something like this:Fall Winter Spring Humidity We’re all familiar with humidity outside our homes, but have you ever considered the indoor humidity of your home? It must really matter. Otherwise, why would there be a whole industry dedicated to selling humidifiers and dehumidifiers?Steven Wright, a long-time comedian with a warped sense of humor and deadpan delivery once said: For my birthday, I got a humidifier […]
August 5, 2019
Summer is coming to a close soon, so you’ll want to teach your kids some valuable, character-building lessons by drafting them to help out with winter preparation chores – so you’ll have more time to watch football. ? But seriously, there are some get-ready-for-winter activities you could certainly delegate to kids that require little supervision (unlike more adult-appropriate tasks like pool preparation). Having everyone pitch in will help your whole family get down to the business of enjoying cooler […]
July 22, 2019
Well, summer is here and with that comes a lot of unwanted houseguests. We’re not talking about your in-laws. Yes, the return of summer bug season is here. In this brief entomological article, let’s learn how to repel, prevent, subdue, give the cold shoulder to, and otherwise avoid summer bugs that fly, crawl, swarm, bite and just DRIVE US CRAZY!!!!! Mosquitoes While we can all agree that bugs are annoying, many can be downright […]
July 1, 2019
The one part of your home you probably pay the least attention to is arguably the most important part of your home. Your roof. Other than wanting our roof to be aesthetically pleasing, we don’t ask a lot of it. We expect it to keep us dry and safe – and our possessions protected. With proper roof maintenance, a roof can last 20 – even 30 years – just quietly doing its job of protecting you and […]
June 18, 2019
First of all, never stick your tongue in a wall outlet. But seriously, folks. We all feel safer in our home. It’s our safe zone. Our hidden oasis from the often scary world outside. It’s the place to leave our troubles behind. But here’s the real deal. Your home may not be as safe as you think. Why else would we feel the need to have smoke and carbon monoxide alarms? This is where home electrical […]
June 4, 2019
For most people, houseplants are a vibrant and welcome addition to add some color and life to their home. Plants can help brighten up a room and make it more inviting but you may not know that houseplants can actually “clean” your air by mitigating pollutants and, helping you and your family to breathe better. We all learn about this stuff in school, but they don’t teach everything about plants. Mostly, we learn about photosynthesis — […]
May 27, 2019
Spring is rough for a lot of us. I just travelled from the seaside, where the ocean breeze and the summer fog keep the pollen to a standstill, back home to Boulder, Colorado, where the trees are blooming like crazy, the wind carries the bright white fuzzballs everywhere, and the lack of humidity means if you have allergies, you’re in the barrel now for sneezing, watery eyes, and a generally miserable experience. So, what causes all this nonsense? […]