At the Fence

Hey neighbors! Valentine's Day is almost upon us.  The year seems to have just started and we are already on the brink of February.  Is your child going to be handing out valentines cards this year? If so, consider Peaceable Kingdom for their valentines.  So sweet! We received two different packages of their Scratch and Sniff Valentines!  One is Cherry and the other is Cookies and Cream!  Each box has 28 cards and 28 envelopes.  There are four different designs in each box.  The Cherry of course smell like cherry, while the Cookies and Cream are chocolate scented.  The backs of each one have a short Valentines message or saying with a space to include who they are being given to and a spot for your child to sign their name. The cards are colorful and bright!  The sayings range from, "Hope your Valentine's Day is dipped in fun!" to "Hi Valentine! I like you cherry much!"  Be sure to get enough that every child receives one, whether for a cla

Image Source There really is nothing more tragically heartbreaking than losing a member of your family, even when that family member is your faithful four legged friend. For the vast majority of people, a dog is as much a part of the family as anyone else. That only serves to make it that much harder when they get older and come to the end of their lives. It's a truly sad fact of life that this is something that every dog owner is going to have to go through at some point. The most important thing is that what you can do when your dog comes to the end of their road is make sure that they are as happy and comfortable as possible. With that in mind, here are a few simple ways that you can take care of your old friend near the end of their life. Take some time off When they're at the end of the road, your dog is probably going to need a lot more care than they previously would have. This means that it's a good idea to take some time off work in order to look after

Image Credit Unless you’ve got a good sum of money available to do some extension work, and all of the necessary grants and permissions to legally go with it, it’s not easy to make a room bigger. However, you may not even need to make it physically larger in order to increase the space within a room; it’s all about angles and using what you’ve got effectively. Bring in the light If you do have a bit of spare cash, WinDor folding windows , patio doors and french doors are your best way of letting in the maximum potential amount of light available to you, giving a brighter feel to the room, without adding on for more space. It does require a bit more money and as well as a skilled labourer to fit them if you can’t do it yourself, but the effects really can transform a room. Freshen up the walls A paint job can give any room a new lease of life. Lighter colours can give open up a room as well as giving the impression that there is more space available than there actuall

In the days of penny pinching and long days of work, we don’t always have the inclination to get dressed up and head out to be social. Instead, why don’t we get dressed up and...stay right at home! With just a few tweaks, you can turn one of your extra rooms into a social hangout spot for your friends and family. Send out the invitations and have them round for an evening of conversation, games and snacks - all in the comfort of your own home. By the way: you can’t charge a penny for your hospitality.  This is all about opening up your room to a select few family members and friends and showing them a good time! The Decor You no longer have a spare room: you have the social room. That means it can’t double up as an office or bedroom. If you’re going to do this, do it properly. That means putting in the right kind of lighting that you’d find in a social setting out and about town. You can add a few items to the wall and install anything that you think will make the room more invi

I think we all may know someone who is elderly, be that a friend or family member. They may act like everything is fine or look like they have a handle on things, but the truth be known many elderly people struggle with some daily tasks. It might be because they are not as mobile as they use to be, or money is tighter because of pensions and savings. This is where you could really help someone you care about by just doing a few things or being there for them. So I thought I would share with you some of the ways you could make things a little easier for an elderly person in your life. Image Help them out when it comes to food Food shopping has got to be one of the areas where an elderly person could really benefit from your help, expertise and advice. Many will opt for a ready meal for convenience, but we all know that they would still rather a home cooked meal . A great tip would be to offer to do their food shopping for them, this could help you stock up their cupboards fo

Some neighbourhoods keep themselves to themselves, occasionally sending greeting cards when the festive period rolls around, but never putting their names - “best wishes from No. 52” is probably the best you’ll get. Others are akin to Stars Hollow with everybody knowing everybody else’s business before the person in question even knows it themselves. When it comes to getting a dog, regardless of what type of community you live in, you want to make sure that they are on their best behaviour. Making enemies - due to your dog acting out of bounds - that you barely see or that you bump into every day isn’t a life choice that everybody aims for - so follow these steps to avoid any awkward situations arising. Pexels Set the Boundaries If you are fine with your new dog or puppy jumping up on the sofa or on your bed, take into consideration any guests that may be visiting in the near future. Although it’s your house and you can do what you want in it, and your dog lives there an

After a long, busy day at work, there’s nothing better than coming home and putting your feet up. Home is the coziest place to be, but if you want to transform yours from good to great, there are a few awesome upgrades you can add. Here are just a few of the ways you can make your home spectacular. Purchase A Hot Tub If you have a big enough garden, a hot tub is an excellent investment. Even if you live in a part of the world that’s cold, they can still be used all year round, as once you’re in that warm water the cold doesn’t matter! Whether you want to throw hot tub party with friends or just hop in on your own after a busy day, it’s an upgrade to your home that’s sure to get plenty of use. Hot water and massaging jets help to ease tense and sore muscles, lower blood pressure and give you an all-round sense of well-being. You could check out a hot tubs 101 article for more information if you were thinking about investing. Install An Epic Entertainment System A huge smart

There are many benefits to having a furry friend in your home. They are great for companionship as well as just having someone to care for. They really can become like part of the family, but facts are facts, and unfortunately, around 20% of pet owners are actually allergic to their pet. It can lead to you feeling rather unwell as you deal with the allergens that come from having a pet in the home. The results from the allergens could be red and itchy eyes, sneezing, coughing and even difficulty to breath. If you think you may have a pet allergy, and they are quite common, then here are some things that you can do to try to help. Sometimes removing other allergens in the home can actually help you deal with the symptoms better, but you should always see a doctor if you think you have an allergy. image Have One Room Be Allergen Free If you know that you will have one room to retreat too if things go badly, then it can make a massive difference to your health. Usually, the b

Image Source Do you want to add some value you to your home? Of course, you do! The property that you own could also be your greatest investment , and there’s a simple rule to follow here. You just need to make sure that you aren’t taking your home for granted. It shouldn't just be a place where you live. You must aim to regularly improve it, and by doing this, you’ll boost the value. There are lots of changes here from aesthetic choices to ways that make the place more practical and comfortable. But before we get into some of the changes that you can make, we need to think about how to improve your home. What steps should you take, how much should you spend and what problems can you face with these plans? Costly Concerns Image Via Pexels The first thing to think about is the cost. There are plenty of home improvements that will cost a fortune but might still be worth doing. For instance, you might think about converting your attic into a new room in your home. Or

credit There’s no doubt that homeownership is still very much part of the American Dream. And some might say it is the most significant. But for many people out there, whether they are just starting out in adulthood or struggling with low wages, it can seem impossible to get a foot on the property ladder. There are, however, a few things you can do to lower the costs of buying a home and realize your dreams. Let’s take a look at some of the bright ideas on property buying that could save you a fortune, and find the right home for you and your family. The fixer upper There is a price to pay if you want to move into a home where everything is perfect. In fact, a home in tip top condition can often be anything between 25-50 percent more expensive than one that needs significant improvement. The good news is that for anyone wanting to buy a home and is prepared to do a lot of work to fix it up, is that there are plenty of bargains to be had. By the time you spend a little mone