Flowers are part not only of every garden landscape, but of almost every celebration, no matter how big or small it is. They appear in the decoration, the bouquets and on the dresses.
With the Christmas holidays knocking on the door, every family and house are trying to come up with different ideas, which will make the atmosphere better and the spirit of the event stronger. Like each of us know, Christmas is not only about gifts, it is about the good feelings, the special time spent with the closest people and the unique memories, that live long after the holiday is over. This all can be achieved with the right decoration.
The Christmas tree appears in every home and there are no general rules how to decorate it, because it looks beautiful in every way. The lights and the joy the children get from the process of its bringing in the house and putting the toys on it make it really special.
There are though very small details, which will customize the decoration and will bring special and unique spirit of the table or the window. The food is important, but the decoration of the dinner table has central part on it as well.
The centerpiece on the Christmas table often follows certain pattern of perfect home garden care. It is created from evergreen flowers, something red, something gold and a candle is put in the middle. If it is difficult to figure out how to make beautiful centerpiece for the dinner table there are several steps that can be followed which will make things much easier.
What have to be done first is to find nice and similar green branches, which will make the basis of the centerpiece and the home mini garden maintenance. They can be interweaved in one another, but it will be far simpler to find a floral foam and take small branches from the big green branches and then put them in the foam. What is necessary to remember is to find a foam shape, which will allow to put a plastic candle holder in its middle. It will be best to make the branches not longer than thirty-forty centimeters.
Then comes the second step, which is putting something red. The decorative berries, typical for the season will do great gardening job. The hypericum berries are one of the options.
The traditional colors of the Christmas holidays are green, red and gold. Since we have already put the first two colors, only the golden flavor is missing. It can be added with the yellow solidago. Besides being yellow and very nice for this purpose, it will also bring wild feeling and look to the centerpiece, which will make connection with the nature.
Here is the most important moment. If the centerpiece is left like this, it can be put on the Christmas table and it will make it very special. According to the taste of the lady of the house, some smaller details can be added. For example such details can be walnuts, cones or just some small gold parts in the shape of garlands.
However it can also become a centerpiece for the Thanksgiving, which is one very important day for the Americans and world famous holiday. The special flavor will be added with the roses and the mums, which will be put on the floral foam and the mini landscape garden design. It is important to remove all the leaves from their stems, before putting them. Otherwise it will be very difficult to control the form of the centerpiece, as too much leaves will be present on it.
When all is done put the candle in the middle and light it up, then the magic will happen.
December 3, 2014 | Ella Andrews
Managing the household on your own is difficult, especially when you are a single parent. You need to go to work and still keep your home clean and organized.
Make a Schedule
As a single dad your job is double. Your major problem is that you never have enough time. That is why you need to plan ahead your activities. You should list down all the tasks. In this way you will not forget a certain area and you can develop a strategy. When you make your schedule, take into consideration your infant’s routine. For instance, it is probably better to set the small cleaning and organizing sessions after they go to bed. Always be sure that you have provided time for unexpected events and emergencies in your schedule.
Keep the Habit
The most difficult thing is to make the regular domestic cleaning your habit. Let’s admit the truth, you are either too busy or you get lazy from me to time. The result is evident: huge pile of dirty clothes, and endless list of things you should do and whole lot of mess you need to deal with. Don’t wait until the situation becomes desperate. Learn to clean on the go. Whenever you spot a toy that is not its place or dirty plate, you should just take care of it. In this way, your home will be more tidy and you will have less to do the actual cleaning day comes.
Doing the Laundry
Don’t be afraid of the laundry day. It may appear quite confusing, but it’s not a rocket science either. If feel insecure about separating the clothes, you can always ask someone who is more experienced than you. You should not procrastinate until your kids are left with nothing to wear. Set aside one day of the week that will be dedicated to washing the clothes. If your children are quite older, they can do their own laundry.
A Little Assistance
There is nothing wrong in asking for a little help. Talk with a family member that can take care of your child for a couple of hours, while you finish cleaning. The lifestyle of a working parent is very busy. Don’t feel bad if you have no time for house cleaning. This doesn’t mean that you have to neglect it. Hire a professional cleaning service that will help you maintain your home. You children can also get involved in the process. With a little training they can vacuum, sweep and dust off. In addition, talk with them about the importance of organization. Try to simply explain to your kids that they should put their possession on the right place, after using them. Collaborating with your children is essential for every single parent.
Avoid the Stress
Taking care of the household alone is an overwhelming experience. Reduce the stress by taking breaks from the “single dad” lifestyle. Make time for self – fulfilling activities like jogging, exercising, going out with friends or even relaxing. In this you will not feel annoyed by the routine and you will quickly recharge your batteries.
November 28, 2014 | Ella Andrews
Leather is a popular choice when it comes to sofas, both at home and at the office. It really does give rooms a warm feel and is a terrific feature or focal point for any room! However upholstery cleaning for leather furniture requires some fine detailing and special domestic cleaning products! Leather sofa cleaning is trickier than cleaning removable fabric covers, but it’s not an impossible feat. You just have to be given some direction on spot cleaning and making sure you leather upholstery doesn’t crack or become discoloured through the incorrect cleaning routine!
First of all it’s imperative that before you even consider cleaning your leather furniture that you keep it out of direct sunlight. This can prevent drying and cracking of your valuable leather sofas or chairs! There are ways you can keep your leather looking well nourished and almost as good as new. A great home cleaning tip for leather furniture is to mix one part of white vinegar with two parts of linseed oil and apply lightly to your leather using a soft, clean, and dry cloth. When cleaning leather always use a circular motion. Rub this concoction in well and let it sit for approximately 10 minutes, before buffing with a soft cloth. This will give your leather sofa an extra amount of sheen!
The most dreaded part of house and upholstery cleaning may very be stain removal from any surface. When it comes to removing stains from your leather furniture, try dipping some cotton wool in rubbing alcohol, then rub slowly in a circular motion over the stain. Then dry the area with your hairdryer to see immediate results. If the stain is still there, apply some cuticle removal to the mark and leave it overnight. In the morning wipe off with a damp cloth. I’d suggest testing this method on a discreet part of your leather sofa, in case of discolouration.
Another tip which has worked for many in the past when it comes to removing dark stains from lightly coloured leather upholstery, is to mix one part lemon juice with one part cream of tartar (a baking ingredient you buy from your local supermarket). Rub the paste on the stain and after 10 minutes apply yet another layer and work it in carefully. Then remove using a damp cloth (not wet).
One tip for leather upholstery cleaning is to use a good moisturising soap. Lather on the soap with a soft cloth, but be sure not over wet the leather. Also don’t rinse after your soaping, just use a soft cloth to remove the soap. Then you can polish as you would normally.
You may not consider the amount of dust that can collect on your leather furniture. Attach a soft brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner and use this to remove the dust before you try soaping down your leather. Using micro-fibre cloths are better than regular cotton cloths, as they really help to pick up extra dust that the vacuum cleaner hasn’t picked up.
It’s true that leather goods including upholstered leather furniture is rather durable, but they don’t respond well to stains or grease and unlike cotton or other hard-wearing fabrics, leather will need special, particular attention and care. Using all-purpose fabric sofa cleaners on your leather couch could end up damaging your leather, so be sure to follow the above tips if you want you leather to last and look its best! However if you’re not confident in your own leather cleaning abilities you can call in the professional cleaners to take care of your upholstery cleaning!
November 24, 2014 | Ella Andrews
If your budget is thinned after buying a new house and interior, it might be a good idea to consider a do-it-yourself approach on some of the jobs around the new home. By far the most popular activity for home improvement is painting. It is one of the things that do not require special training or skills, nor does it require that much of preparation. What you need to do is arm yourself with patience and see some general advice on how to do the job properly. It will not only save you money but also cause less disruption to your home as it allows you to be flexible. And let’s not forget how fun it can be.
The first thing you have to do is properly select the paint you want. Navigate the paint aisle with caution and bring samples to your home to best determine if what you are going after looks good on your wall.Consider what equipment you will need. The last thing you want is to start the painting job and discover you are missing something. This will delay your work and spoil your plans.
Buy all the brushes, buckets, painting rollers and extension poles. The last one is very useful, as it will allow you to paint high surfaces without the need for a ladder. Another handy tool to have for the job is a paint grid. This is a grid that is usually hooked onto the rim of the bucket. It serves the purpose of removing excess paint from your roller or brush, which makes the whole process of painting a whole lot easier.
Before you paint a room, it is extremely important to prepare it. It can be a messy job, no doubt about that. Remove everything that can be moved out of the room, such as decorations, furniture and electronic devices. Turn off the electricity, remove the lamps, switches and anything that will get in the way. Use tape on the walls and anywhere that borders with painting surface. If needed, after you finish the painting, call professional house cleaners to clear the mess.
Before you apply your paint, it is important to prepare the walls. You can wipe off dust with cloth or scrub with water and soap in areas that are dirtier. Another thing you have to do is cover any imperfections on the wall. This is very important, because no paint can really hide any cracks and the like. You will have to use primer on walls that already have paint on them.
A final piece of advice for any person who is into painting on their own – do not rush. Work carefully, be patient in order to achieve the best results. It is your home after all, so anything less than perfect will not suffice. Give yourself enough time for the project, be patient and you will soon reap the benefits of this DIY job.
November 17, 2014 | Ella Andrews
When we talk about wall renovation the first thing that comes in mind is changing wallpaper. It is a job many consider doing on their own, not hiring any experts and it is only understandable. After all, a more thorough renovation can be costly and you will want to save from things you can finish on your own. The job is messy, but following certain steps can ensure a success. Just prepare carefully, as it is a job that can damage your walls and make it harder to put new wallpaper or paint on.
So before you decide to do this job on your own, it is very important to know what has to be done and what the steps of the whole process are. This will ensure a successful project with no problematic situations.
First step – clear the room of any furniture or other objects. You will have to give yourself enough space and also protect anything inside, as the job is messy, as it was already mentioned. Protect the floor with cloth and tape overlapping on the walls. There will be glue and hot water streaming down the walls from the old wallpaper, so there needs to be a good number of towels or other soaking material. Take everything off the walls, such as switches, vents and others and mask their opening with tape or other sealing material.
Second step – you need to remove the face of the wallpaper, i.e. its outmost layer. You can start from the base of the wall or ceiling and around any power switches, where the paper is usually loose. By stripping this layer first you will have an easier time dealing with the glued part of the wallpaper.
Third step – next comes the harder part of removing the glued remains off the wall. Soak the wallpaper with hot water or other chemical solution, if water alone does not cut it. The market presents many options for wallpaper removal, so you can use them to complete the task. Use a putty knife to tear off pieces that remain stuck, but be careful not to scratch the wall.
Fourth step – carefully examine the walls for any glue left there. You want to apply the new wallpaper on well and professionally cleaned wall, else you risk that it will not stick properly. This is the toughest cleaning part, but it is important to do it properly. Again, you can use other solutions, such as various chemical strippers.
Fifth step – repair the wall. Any holes, gouges and scratches should be patched with joint compound. Once it is dry, the wall should be sanded until its surface is smooth enough. That is the final step of the process, but it is very important. Any imperfections on the wall will likely cause new wallpaper to bubble or not stick properly.
That pretty much concludes the process of removing the wallpaper on your own. Give yourself enough time for the task, and stay focused on each of the steps to ensure a success and a job well done.
November 10, 2014 | Ella Andrews
