Monday, July 28, 2014

Ideas to Dress Up Your Deck


  • Focus On Your Furniture-Select one special piece of furniture and place it where it achieves focal point status. Even one high-impact piece will make the rest of your deck furnishings feel less utilitarian. This set blends sleek, sophisticated lines with relaxation and stands up to heavy use and weather
  • Edge with Green-Form a living privacy screen with a trio of head-high planters. Start with classy pots (ours are lightweight resin) and add a lush arborvitae to each. Stand the matching plantings side by side along an edge of your deck to gain privacy and put lush greenery within reach.
  • Hang Wall Art-Think of your outside walls just like you would think of walls IN your house. Filling blank spots with colorful or conversation-starting art pieces helps your deck feel more personal. This bright and beautiful kite, for instance, adds a colorful note to this stone wall. Hung within easy reach, it's also available for play whenever a breeze stirs. Architectural salvage pieces also make intriguing outdoor art that's weather-hardy.
  • Plant A Container Garden-Enhance any outdoor setting with a container garden that combines interesting colors and textures. To make the garden portable, use a lightweight fiberglass pot. The shade-loving group shown here includes polka dot plant, pink wax begonias, white Torenia and spider plant.
  • Make A Fire Bowl-Give your deck the flickering warmth of a personal fire bowl for cozy ambience as twilight approaches. To make the bowl, place a 13-ounce can of clean-burning gel-alcohol fuel in a 10-inch-diameter terra-cotta container. Surround the can's bottom and sides with tumbled recycled glass.
  • Add Punch-Pillows, paint and paper lanterns coordinate with the bright colors of the fabric streamers creating privacy for this tiny deck. 
  • Add A Rug-The zebra-look rug adds spark to an otherwise tradtional look. The rug also visually separates the eating area from conversation area. 
  • Create Privacy-A row of evergreens forms a privacy wall for this deck. A couple of green accessories pop in the neutral scene
  • Try Sparks Of Color-When neutrals dominate as they do with this wood and metal table, add a spark of color like these bright green resin chairs.
  • Go Freestyle-Sheet metal roofing heads this freestanding deck toward the casual end of the style spectrum. Vines and plants ground the look.
  • Keep It Simple-A simple brick patio and a small raised area call for other simple pleasures: a basic table, retro-style chairs and a hammock. 

Different Ways To Use Baking Soda That You May Have Never Thought Of


  • Clean fruits and vegetables. Sprinkle some on a sponge, wipe fruits and vegetables clean, and rinse them off.
  • Wash dishes, pots and pans. Adding a couple tablespoons to your dishwater can help remove grease and food from your dishes. If the food is cooked on, let it soak first then use some dry baking soda on a cloth to scrub it away.
  • Clean your oven. Sprinkle it in your oven and spray with water, then let it sit overnight. The next day, scrub the oven and scoop out the baking soda.
  • Clean tubs, tiles, and sinks. Pour some on a damp cloth or sponge and scrub away. Rinse and dry. You’ll be surprised how well this works.
  • Mop floors. Just add a half cup to a bucket of warm water and mop away. You might still need a cloth or sponge to get up scuff marks.
  • Clean grease and oil stains. Pour some on the spot and scrub it with a wet brush.
  • Clean walls and furniture. Any painted surface can be cleaned with some baking soda on a damp cloth or sponge. Rub lightly and dry with a clean cloth.
  • Clean your car. A half cup mixed with a half gallon of warm water is the perfect solution for cleaning tires, windows, floor mats and vinyl seats.
  • Keep your refrigerator smelling good. This is the most common usage. Just place an open box in the door. Bad smells are neutralized.

  • Deodorize sinks and trash cans. For the sink, pour half a cup down the drain while running warm water. For the trash, sprinkle some on the bottom of your trash can and in your trash occasionally.
  • Deodorize carpet. Most of those powder carpet deodorizers you see in the store are a rip-off. Just sprinkle some baking soda and let it sit overnight before sweeping/vacuuming it up.
  • Deodorize the litter box. If you have a cat, you understand what a nuisance the smell of the litter box is. Sprinkle baking soda in the box before and after you add the litter.
  • Keep clothes and shoes smelling fresh. Keep an open box with your clothes and sprinkle some into your shoes when you’re not wearing them.
  • Deodorize yourself. A little bit patted onto your underarms can go a long way toward cutting down on body odor.
  • Brush your teeth, freshen your breath. Toothpaste can be made with baking soda and a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution. For fresh breath, put a teaspoon in some water, swish it in your mouth and spit it out.
  • Make soap. The formula is three parts baking soda to one part water. Rub it on your face and body, then rinse off.
  • Use it as an antacid. It’s great for indigestion, heartburn and sour stomach. Add half a teaspoon to half a glass of water and drink it. Make sure it is completely dissolved before swallowing.
  • Rinse your hair. Add a little bit of baking soda to your shampoo then wash and rinse as usual. This helps remove residue from shampoo and styling products so your hair is cleaner.
  • Relieve itchy skin and insect bites. Mix water and baking soda into a paste and apply to the affected area.
  • Put out fires. If you don’t already have a fire extinguisher, then you should keep an open box of baking soda in every room. It works for normal fires, electrical fires and grease fires. Smother the base of the flame
The wax they are speaking of here is the same wax candles are made of (not soy, obviously). The same wax that is acquired by scraping the bottom of the barrel that crude oil comes out of.  Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, the very same wax.  And you're buying this for consumption for you and your family.  On a good note, if you are buying these noodles, take the seasoning packets out of the package and throw the rest away.  Put the seasoning packets in a tub of the hottest water you can stand and sit in it for 30 minutes.  If you do this 2-3 times a week, you can lose up to one dress size.  It's a type of detox for your body.  Try it and see if it works.  I did and it worked for me!!!