3 Easy Crafts for Beginners

 

Are you looking for a new hobby but feel intimidated by the complexity of some popular activities such as quilting or portrait painting? First of all, you can learn anything and have fun doing it! There are classes available in your area that can show you a new skill to enjoy. Whatever hobby you want to pick up, you can find everything to do it art supply store Long Beach CA. However, if you want to start with a craft that's simple to do, try one of these.

1. A Fleece Baby Blanket

Pick out a few yards of polar fleece with a fun pattern for the little one in your life. Cut the piece in half and make fringe all the way around the outside. Tie the fringed ends together and you'll have a cute, cuddly blanket in no time. This is a perfect homemade gift for a new parent. They'll appreciate your care and effort.

2. A Centerpiece

Get a foam block and some artificial flowers. Arrange them by sticking them into the foam and you'll quickly have a beautiful display for the middle of your dinner table. It's fun to change these out with the seasons, featuring special holiday decor throughout the year, including ornaments at Christmastime or using a colorful basket in the spring.

3. Handprint Art

Incorporate the kids in the crafts! Purchase non-toxic finger paint and get out the construction paper. Make handprint ghosts for Halloween or turkeys for Thanksgiving. You'll create memories and artwork you can cherish forever.

Don't be afraid to get creative. You can find a whole new passion that you can share with others. Look for ideas in magazines and online. Invite a friend to try something new with you. You can have a great time without spending a lot of money, and who doesn't want that?

Planning a Fun Summer for Your Children

 

Summer can be a challenging time when you are dealing with children who have been cooped up and are looking for something fun to do. Although it might not be possible to make every day an adventure, there are ways you can ensure as much fun as possible. Take a look at these ideas to make your next summer go smoother. 

Find Outdoor Activities They Can Enjoy

Summer is the best time to get your kids outside and encourage them to enjoy everything the beautiful weather has to offer. From setting up a sprinkler to gardening or encouraging wildlife to visit your home, check out these ideas that will have your kids excited to wake up and run outside to play every day. 

Get Them Enrolled in Summer Camp

Summer camp can be a good way for children to meet new friends, spend time out of the house, and even learn new skills, such as horseback riding and archery. You might need to look around for a camp that can match your child's needs. There is usually something out there for every age group and interest, such as summer camps Raeford NC. 

Plan a Family Vacation To Look Forward To

Sometimes it can be nice to simply spend quality time together as a family. Use this time to decide where everyone would like to vacation. It can be somewhere local if you can't afford to fly to an expensive location. The most important thing is that you have fun and spend quality time together as a family. 

There are a variety of ways to keep your children engaged come summer. Find outdoor activities that are fun and educational, and consider planning a family vacation. Summer camps are another good way to help them build skills and make new friends.  

Top 6 Fall Exterior Home Updates That Increase Safety

 This time of year, many homeowners want to take the opportunity to update their homes for safety. With warmer weather on the way, it's also an excellent time to make sure your home is in great shape before all the increased traffic comes knocking. There are some things you can do around your home exterior that will help ensure your safety. Here are some of the top 6 exterior safety updates to consider.

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New Gutters

If you have leaking gutters, you will want to replace them immediately, or they can cause severe damage to your roof. If you have trees near your house, make sure the gutters are cleaned out often, so the leaves do not back up and cause water to leak into your home. The old gutters can be recycled or given away. Ensure they are in good shape before you do this to ensure that they are entirely safe. You don't want someone getting hurt by an old gutter that you were going to give away.

Wiring

One of the most common exterior safety projects is ensuring all your outdoor electrical wiring is up to date. If you have a new addition or a generator, you will need to ensure that their exterior wiring has been updated if you want a trouble-free operation. Wiring can be very tricky. Be careful when you are updating the wiring to prevent any unwanted accidents.

Light Fixtures

Make sure your outdoor lighting is up-to-date and working correctly. Replace any old or outdated fixtures with new exterior lighting with motion sensors or timers, so you don't have to worry about forgetting them when you leave for the day.

Use caution when updating high-voltage light fixtures. They are often dangerous if they are not done right. This may include installing safety switches so that your lights are turned off if there is a power surge or lightning strike nearby or other safety measures that ensure that there is no chance of fire or electrical shock should this happen. Don't skip these necessary safety steps.

Tree Trimming

If your trees are overgrown, you will want to trim them back. Look for any damage or disease that may be due to the changes in the weather over the seasons. If you notice any damage, have a company offering tree service to treat it immediately, so it does not get out of control. A minor repair now can save you a lot of money down the road.

Checking the Foundation

Make sure your exterior walls and foundation are structurally sound. You can do this with a small electronic device that detects any problems with the foundation. If you find any issues, you can call a company to repair them before they become a significant problem.

Door and Lock Maintenance

One of the best things you can do for your home exterior is to ensure all the locks are working correctly. Check and see if they need to be lubricated or replaced. You may also want to consider replacing the locks on your doors with deadbolt locks that will provide more protection if someone attempts to break into your home.

Conclusion

Many reasons can lead you to make upgrades to your home. Whatever your reason is, safety should be above everything. When you hire a company to make home improvements to your home exterior, discuss how to secure your home. After these updates, you will relax and enjoy your home as the season progresses.

Ways To Ensure Your Home Is Kept Fresh and Borderline Flawless

 

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Everyone who owns a home or has a place they’re responsible for will know that it’s not all plain sailing. It’s great that we have a place that we can head to every single day and night, but it’s not without a lot of hard work. If you leave things for too long, then the chances are that you’ll be put into a pretty ugly situation. The last thing you want to do is live in a pigsty, so it’s up to you to ensure your home is kept fresh and in the right condition.

 

How can you do that? Well, there is an array of jobs big and small that you’ll have to carry out. Living in a home is a 24/7 job as new problems arise all of the time. Here are a few ideas that perhaps may help you out: 

 

Stay Consistent With Your Everyday Jobs 

 

If you stop for a few days, your home might turn into something of a mess. If you continue to hold off on your everyday jobs, then things will only get worse. Do what you can to get yourself into a habit. Write out a plan and organize things with anyone you’re living with. If you have a solid system, it makes the entire living situation so much easier.

 

Keep The Air Fresh And Flowing 

 

Fresh air is so important in this life. If you stay indoors for too long or if you have badly conditioned air in your home, you might come down with all kinds of problems. Fortunately, you purchase products like air purifiers and automatic air fresheners in order to keep things fresh. You could also go one further and bring in the likes of a dryer vent cleaning service so that you don’t have to worry about huge fundamental flaws in your vents. 

 

Wash Up The Kitchen After Each Use 

 

The kitchen (and the bathroom) are the two places in the house that should be kept immaculate. They hold so much value and are extremely important, obviously. If these two rooms are left in a heap, then it’s safe to say that you’ll be living in a home that is pretty undesirable. Make it your duty to keep the kitchen and bathroom(s) in the best possible condition every day. Not only will this raise the overall level of the home, but it’ll encourage you to improve all other areas, too. 

 

Take Care Of Pests 

 

If you have an infestation of critters or rodents, then obviously that is going to taint a lot of what you’ve tried to do in the home. It’s all good having a pet in your home that you love, but too many intruders cannot happen. 

 

Make Sure The Garden Isn’t A Swamp 

 

A garden is supposed to be a place that makes you feel at ease with everything. If your garden isn’t exactly up to scratch, then it can taint the entire home. It sounds dramatic, but it’s true. It’s your job to, at the very least, keep your garden clear. Ensure there is a neat walkway and no random items left lying around. Neatness is bliss. 

5 Benefits of Bringing a Pet into Your Home

 

Belle is my son Joel's Australian Shepherd and she's one year old!
This is us on a recent camping trip.

Pets of any kind bring happiness. They make excellent companions, can be great for lonely people, or be a wonderful way to teach kids about responsibility. The advantages of owning a pet stretch much further than even that; there are some real, tangible reasons to consider bringing one into your home.

 

#1 They can make you fitter

 

Pets that need interaction with help you get fit. This applies especially to taking a dog for a walk. Not everybody enjoys taking exercise, and fewer still want to go for a long walk or run simply for the sake of it. The beauty of owning a dog is that you have no choice. You’ll need to walk the animal at least once a day, and more active dogs like huskies can even be taken on long runs or bicycle rides. Forming a routine around exercise is great for your health, and having a reason to get up and get out ensures that you never miss a day.

 

#2 Great for mental health

 

More broadly, all pets have a beneficial effect on mental health. Even something as small as a hamster can alleviate feelings of isolation and loneliness. The responsibility of owning a pet can also give somebody a feeling of purpose. Companionship is a big motivator for pet owners. Having an animal companion has been shown to relieve the symptoms of anxiety and depression and generally enhance feelings of positivity. Stroking a pet has even been shown to help people sleep better!

 

#3 Help you get organized

 

Caring for a pet is rewarding, but it isn’t always easy. There are vet bills, food supplies, and you’ll even need to replace toys regularly. Tools like Exceptional Pets make this process easier by putting all the required services (vets, food suppliers, etc.) in one place and allowing you to search according to criteria, but you’ll still need to be organized. Scheduling checks, establishing a grooming routine, and ensuring a regular supply of the right kind of food helps you to organize other areas of your life, too.

 

#4 They teach kids responsibility

 

Following on from the previous point, there aren’t many kids who don’t want to own a pet. They think they can handle the responsibility, promise to walk the dog or feed the cat, but words don’t always translate easily into actions. Bringing a pet into the home and teaching your kids how to care for it can really help them mature, though. It’s important to supervise them and offer guidance, but giving a child responsibility early in their life will help them to grow into a more considerate, capable adult.

 

#5 More socialization options

 

Pets give you access to pet owner clubs, where you’re likely to meet new people and make friends. Dogs might go to dog parks, but other animals, including cats and even birds, all have local clubs dedicated to them. Bonding with other pet owners is a fantastic way to make new friends (you all have a shared interest, after all) and can lead to long-term relationships.