Home Improvement NEW & REVOLUTIONARY PRODUCT

Improve your patio, driveway or swimming pool with Crystal Concrete Designs.

At Crystal Concrete, We have the product to meet all of your paving needs. The endless opportunities will appeal to your discerning taste. And the affordable nature of Crystal Concrete will present countless possibilities for decorating your home or business.

Crystal Concrete is not comparable to any other tiles or natural stones available on the US market today.

Crystal Concrete is a perfect paving solution for your driveway, patio, walkway, swimming pool and much, much more. Builders, do-it-yourself companies, building supply companies, landscapers, swimming pool installers, etc will find this product a remarkable product to offer to their customers.

Crystal Concrete has been designed in Europe with the latest technology and has to offer the following benefits:

1. Less heat absorbent
2. Non-Slippery surface
3. Many colors to choose from
4. Colors will not fade unevenly
5. Multiple designs
6. Up to 20000 lbs. Strength (installed on concrete and sealed (1 inch only))
7. Custom colors can be made to fit your needs
8. Virtually unbreakable
9. NO WASTE
10. Interlocking paving stones

Special Colors:

1. Any color can be made per your request.98% Color mach guaranteed*

Because of their classic style and durable structure, Crystal Concrete patios, driveways and walkways will literally weather the test of time. The more the sun bakes into them, the more beautiful they become. So perfectly practical, the Crystal Concrete patios gives you ample opportunities for entertaining, relaxing and enjoying the outdoors.

THERE ARE THREE DESIGNS AVAILABLE PLEASE CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION!
Only one design is shown in this article






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CRYSTAL CONCRETE
1102 Technology Dr. Suite D
Indian Trail, NC 28079
http://eHomeImprovement.blogspot.com
Toll-free: (877) 326-8872
Phone: (704) 622-8727
Fax: (704) 847-3771
Email: crystalconcrete@yahoo.com

5 Secrets To Growing Beautiful Roses

A rose is a rose is rose - and there are few things in the garden more beautiful.

There are 5 secrets I want to share that will help you to grow healthy roses.

1. Sunshine: Plan to put your rose bush in a spot where it will get as much sun at least 6 hours of sunshine a day.
2. Water: Drops of water on the leaves can cause burning, and lead to black spot disease so always water from underneath, soaking the earth until it is damp but not soggy.
   It is better to water thoroughly once a week than lightly several times in the same period. Beware if your Roses get too much water, they'll drown. Water in the morning or at least four or five hours before dusk so that any excess moisture can be absorbed by the heat of the day.
3. Planting & Soil: As soon as the ground can be worked in the Spring, turn the soil to the depth of the spade. To the loosened soil add 1/3 to 1/2 as much again of composted humus like leaf mold, peat moss, or composted manure, together with coarse sand. Make sure to work the soil at least a month before planting.
4. Tidy, Tidy: Keep Roses healthy, it is important to gather up withered petals and leaves and pick off any live leaves with black spots. Prevent black spot - mix 1 tbs of baking soda with 1 tbs of liquid dish soap and 1 gallon of water together and spray your Rose leaves.
5. Prune: Always prune 1/4" above an outward facing bud. Always use a sharp knife or hand pruners. Never prune in fall. Always cut off the suckers, they grow just below the bud union; follow them down to where they begin and carefully remove them to encourage strong new growth.

Roses are classified into types according to ancestry, bush type, and flower form and size - ask at your local nursery for the type you prefer.


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Abigail Baker is webmaster and managing editor for Country Mall Place at http://www.acplace.com/.

5 Reasons for Firewood to Get Your Attention in Early Spring

As the weather hints of warmth and the spring buds appear on trees, firewood may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But early spring is the ideal time to buy or gather your firewood for your fireplace or woodstove. Why? Here are 5 good reasons:

1. Firewood needs at least six months to season. If you want your firewood ready for the cool days of next fall, now’s the time to be getting it.
2. Insects living under the bark are dormant in early spring. When you store firewood now for use next fall or winter, any insects will likely die before you bring the firewood into your home. That’s a plus!
3. Prices for firewood are generally down in early spring, and the supplies are good. Buying now instead of waiting for cold weather to buy your firewood will save you money.
   
4. Fuel costs, especially the cost of heating oil, are rising. Many people will be turning to their fireplaces as a source of supplemental heat, especially when they see their fuel bills next winter. So next fall is expected not only to have the regular seasonal increase in firewood prices but also to see additional price increases due to unusually high demands. Buying your firewood now puts you ahead of those price increases that are forecast for firewood next fall.
   
5. Landowners whose property has been logged will welcome you if you ask permission to salvage firewood. Loggers leave behind about 50% of each tree, cluttering the landscape but providing you with free firewood. With a chain saw and a wood splitter, you can tailor your firewood to the dimensions of your fireplace. There’s considerably less competition for this free firewood in early spring than there is during the cooler seasons.

So go ahead and let your thoughts turn to springtime, but get a jump on next fall now, too. When the cool weather returns, you’ll be glad to have your seasoned firewood waiting for you.

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Susan Penney appreciates simple ways to make our homes renewing spaces for our families. She invites you to visit http://www.FireplaceMall.com for fireplace accessories to serve your fire-less or your fire-filled fireplace.

Granite is Tough; Taking Correct Care of It Isn't

Crystal like granite countertops and spa type bathrooms built with natural stone are all the rage in home interiors, but not surprisingly it will lose its investment value fast if not properly maintained.

Up to now, only ammonia based cleaners were the granite cleaning choice outside of soap and water for homeowners, regardless of the fact that these products in reality damage natural stone.

Marble Master’s stone cleaning product line safely cleans and conditions countertops, floors and wall surrounds made of granite, marble, travertine and other natural stone. For more information, visit www.marblemasteruk.com

"Ammonia-based products remove the seal of natural stone, allowing stains to penetrate the surface and set more easily," said Edward Green, Technical Director of Marble Master. "The damage caused by these products increases the chance that the stone will have to be refurbished or replaced, which is a costly undertaking."

Natural stone is hard-wearing, but still needs appropriate care to continue its inherent beauty. When treated correctly, it is a low maintenance surface that will hold its gleam longer than any other surface known to man, and can enhance the value of your home.

Marble Master's set of non ammoniated, inexpensive products features its Daily Cleaner, Daily Cleaner Wipes, Polish/Protector, Stone Soap and Penetrating Sealers. The line protects and extends the life of stone countertops and gives customers high quality cleaning power. The line is non toxic, safe on all food preparation surfaces, features a streak-free formula and is easy to use.

Marble Master Products are also effective when used on natural quartz surfaces and engineered stone and can be safely used on ceramics or porcelain tile and grout. This exclusive product line, which contains the highest grade of quality ingredients, is user friendly, non toxic and safe for the environment.

The Marble Master Stone Care System is specially formulated and developed by stone care professionals with more than 40 years of experience in the natural stone industry. For more information or to purchase the products, visit www.marblemasteruk.com or call 020 8807 8889.
You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter on your web site as long as the byline is included and the article is included in it's entirety. I also ask that you activate any html links found in the article and in the byline. Please send a courtesy link or email where you publish to: support@marblemasteruk.com

Website: http://www.marblemasteruk.com


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Edward Green owns and operates the highly successful Marble Master Ltd company. Marble Master specializes in Restoration and Refinishing of all types of natural stone and consultancy services to Architects, Restoration Companies and Interior Designers.

Designing Your Kid’s Room is Child’s Play!

Would your child’s room benefit from some fresh design ideas and reorganization? Most could, but it can be hard to know where to begin and what concepts to use. Obviously, the age and personality of your child, not to mention your budget, will dictate much of the design concept. But where and how to begin? With these easy-to-follow tips, you will be ready to dive right in and decorate.

A room with a viewpoint

Every piece of furniture, wall-hanging and accessory in a child’s room contributes to an overall feeling conveyed by the room. A sports theme conveys excitement, while soft white clouds against a light blue sky add a relaxing, inspirational touch. Choose the design that is right for your child by having a conversation with each object and piece of furniture before you place it in the room, asking what it could contribute and where it would like to be placed. Ask the room what color it would like to be painted, or the walls what they would like hanging on them. Stay open-minded and you will realize the answer to each question is within you.

Give your child the room of his or her dreams - literally

Did you know that children sleep for up to sixteen hours a day and sometimes more, depending on their age? For child development, sleep is as vital for health and well-being as food. So your first consideration when designing your child’s bedroom should be to create a space that feels comfortable, warm and safe. Keep this in mind when planning to decorate, since creating an atmosphere where your child can sleep peacefully is more important than adapting the latest hot design trend.

Minimize distractions, maximize peace of mind

Messy, cluttered rooms add a subtle layer of stress to the inhabitant, and can inhibit proper relaxation. Keep your child’s room well-organized, with as few distractions as possible. Before you begin to decorate your child’s room, remove all furniture, toys, clothes, and wall-hangings. Clean the entire room, using natural cleaners that won’t irritate your child’s sensitive nostrils and lungs.

Color me beautiful

Paint can transform an ordinary room into a world of your child’s own. Color will influence how your child feels, so choose shades or combinations that promote relaxation, security, happiness and love. Green, blue, pink, pastel orange, and beige are all good choices. Let your child help pick the color, but stay away from bright reds and yellows which can be overly vibrant, making it hard for your child to relax, and from dreary grays, browns or black, which can be depressing and may affect your child’s mood. Paint should be freshened every two to four years, and should provide a nice backdrop for the rest of the room.

Bed sheets, blankets and bumpers should also be soothing to the eye, so steer clear of bright, dominant colors. Pastels of any color work fine here, as does plain white or cream. When it comes to room accents, you can be creative with colors. A child’s chair or step stool can be painted in bright primary colors, eliciting feelings of excitement, while a large soft teddy bear or rug can be light blue or pink, enveloping your child in comfort and love.

Clear that clutter!

Once the paint is dry, bring back in the bed. Place the bed in its ideal location, then one by one, fill out the room with the other furniture pieces (see Feng Shui Tips, below). If the room starts to look cluttered, do not feel you must fit in everything. Trade the chest of drawers for a closet organizer, wire or wood systems.

Clothes that no longer fit should be donated, passed to a friend in need, or stored in waterproof storage boxes in a garage or storage space, along with clothes that are out of season. (Make sure if you are storing these clothes to clearly mark the outside of the boxes for easy identification.) Limit toys and books to those the child makes use of daily and weekly. Give away unused toys, or store them in waterproof boxes in a garage or storage space. The more clothes and toys you get rid of, the more room you will have for future fashions and fun activities.

Feng Shui tips

You may have heard or read about Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese art of object and furniture placement. Feng Shui explains that each area of a room attracts a different type of energy from the other areas. Implementing Feng Shui in your child’s bedroom design can maximize the effectiveness of the furniture and art you are already planning to use. For example, Feng Shui teaches that a bed should be placed in the corner of the room farthest from the door. Your child’s head should be at the end of the bed where the door can be easily viewed, and there is no chance of getting startled by an unexpected visitor.

The northern section of your child’s room promotes stillness, so this would be an example of an ideal placement for the bed. The desk should be placed far from the door, in the Northeast part of the room if possible, since this is the Knowledge/Education Sector. This area is also a great place for educational posters, such as letters of the alphabet or a picture of Einstein. Select artwork carefully, taking time to notice any hidden messages. Each image gives off a specific vibration, so only choose the most positive pictures for the walls.

Of all the activities your child will do in his or her room - including grooming, relaxing, studying, and playing - in mind that sleep is most important and must be supported by the design of the room. Take your child’s personality into consideration, as well as his or her hobbies and special interests. Still, keep all décor in check so that it does not overwhelm or clutter the space. And finally, have fun! The energy, love and care you bring to this project will permeate every object’s placement, adding an invisible yet invaluable element to whatever design you choose to implement.

By BatSheva Vaknin http://www.homeandliving.com/DesignAdvice.aspx?Category=KidsRoom


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BatSheva Vaknin
I have a lot of experience in the furniture retail business and i love to write articles as a hobby. http://www.homeandliving.com/

Thinking About Selling Your Home?

Owning a home is the original American dream. It’s the old frontier spirit, wanting to claim your own tuft of the New World. Then again, these days it also makes perfect economic sense. Experts estimate that all of the homes in the United States alone are worth a combined $14 trillion. That goes a long way to explain why a housing boom has been sweeping the globe.

Where there is a boom, though, there may be a bust. Read any headline from your local newspaper, and you’ll see headlines such as “Bye-Bye, Housing Boom” to “Housing Boom is Leveling Off.” Some economic forecasters predict a bubble that may be about to burst. They make you wonder: am I missing the boat?

Whether you’re looking to cash in on this real estate bubble before it pops—or simply wanting to move to a bigger home or move across the country—selling your home can be more a nightmare than a dream. Not only do you have to find and trust a real estate agent. You need to prep your home for open houses. You need to haggle with prospective buyers. Not to mention, you have to worry about the moving and selling of all of your valuables.

It’s almost enough to make you want to live in one home for the rest of your life—just as folks did in your grandparents’ day. Then again, your home is worth a percentage of that $14 trillion. Don’t you want to see just how much?

As hectic and horrible as selling a home may seem, it really isn’t so bad if you break it down into a few simple rules. If you don’t believe us, read the rules for yourself.

Fuss over the façade. Your home’s future owners do not want to worry about repairs and renovations as soon as they move in. So make certain they don’t. Be sure to have your home immaculately clean before you invite prospective buyers over. Redecorate if your interior is outdated. And invest in minor renovations if necessary. You’d be surprised what a coat of paint can do.

Focus on the fine details. Prospective buyers will leave no stone unturned when they visit your home. They will test every light switch, run every faucet, and lift up every toilet seat. Everything—and we mean everything—should be in working order before your open house.

Double check for blown out light bulbs and leaky faucets. Scrub the bathroom and clean up any ring around the bowl, tub scum, and any other nasty surprise.

Don’t settle for maybes on safety. Ensure that there are no safety hazards anywhere on your property. Something as small as uncovered electrical sockets or as large as an unfenced pool can scare off buyers, especially parents of small children.

Create a soothing selling atmosphere. Imagine the last time you visited a bed and breakfast. Your home should be as welcoming and accommodating as that. One easy way to accomplish this is by brightening up the place. Turn on all your lights for your visitors. Plus, fluff up your bedroom. After all, most people want the bedroom to be the most comfortable spot in the house. Make sure it is—at least when buyers are around.

Clear the joint. Along with the last rule, there is the standard real estate practice of vacating the premises when buyers come for tours. This is done for good reason. Buyers are there to evaluate your home, not meet your sisters, sons, cousins, and cats. So send your family to the mall for a day of shopping, or to the park for a picnic.

Cut the clutter. All of your stuff can get in the way, too. That’s why it’s important to start packing and storing your personal belongings as soon as you know you’re going to move. An empty house is a cleaner looking house is a more attractive house. You don’t want your perspective buyer opening a closet and having a bowling ball fall on their head, do you?

Make a killing on said clutter. One option is to simply move your personal items to your new home and create instant clutter there. That’s the way of the pack rat. Or, you could sell what you no longer need and turn a quick profit. That’s the way of the fat cat.

If you choose wisely—the latter option—be sure not to hold your garage sale on the same days as your open houses. Neighbors in their undershirts and jeans on your front lawn do make for a great sales ploy. Instead, it makes you look desperate and could hurt you come negotiations. Schedule your yard sale on separate days.

Better yet, sell your goods online. Classified Web sites allow you to negotiate with potential buyers, get the best rates for your stuff, and ship it off at your own convenience. And it’s all accomplished on your own time, inside your own home (where you can wear your undershirt and jeans and no one will care).

Take a deep breath. Lastly, never let the home-selling experience overwhelm you. Sure, there are a load of responsibilities to take care of. But that is what your real estate agent is there for. They handle all of the grunt work. They do all of the hard talking with the buyer. They make all the follow-up calls. And they showcase your home for you. Your job is just to smile, be polite, and answer the buyer’s questions if they come up.


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Donald Lee is the public relations manager for Buysellcommunity.com. Buysellcommunity provides free classified listing services for individuals and businesses to market their products and services online. For global and localized classifieds, please visit http://www.buysellcommunity.com - Free Buy & Sell Classifieds.

Curtains offer many decorative choices

The roles of curtains have changed. At one time they were used to retain heat, block cold air, control sunlight and provide privacy. They still perform these roles, but with the many advancements in window glass and window design technology, they are often much more decorative than functional. Decorators can be much more creative in their window treatments with this shift to the decorative usage.

For many people, there is a distinction between the terms curtains and drapes. Drapes are usually floor length, lined and suspended from a traverse rod with hooks that will allow them to be opened and closed by pulling a cord. Draperies are usually very formal looking. Curtains are less formal. They are usually those fabric window treatments that are suspended by hooks or rings from a rod and opened and closed by grasping the edge and pulling the fabric panel into position. Often they are tied back to the window casing and are not opened or closed at all. In these situations, they are frequently used in conjunction with shades, or blinds which can be closed to block sunlight or provide privacy.

Types of curtains

There are three basic types of curtains. These are the panel, the cafe and tiered. Panel are simply plain panels of fabric that are hemmed at the top and at the bottom. They are suspended from the top of the window by rings or hooks and hang in natural folds, giving the window a less formal appearance. These are often used in bedrooms and dining rooms and maybe used in combination with shades, blinds or sheers. Cafe curtains are generally hung from the center of the window, leaving the upper part of the window bare or exposed. Sometimes the cafe styles will be hung one fourth or one third of the way down from the top of the window, giving the window a much different look. Either way, they are tied back. Cafe curtains are often used in kitchens and in informal dining areas. The third kind is the tiered. These are multiple panels with one or two panels hanging over the top of the two base panels. The base panels usually cover the bottom half of the window and the outer panels cover the top half of the window and hang down to overlap the base panels.

There are three basic lengths as well. The sill length is either suspended from either the halfway point or the top of the window. The bottom hem is not quite touching the windowsill. The below the sill style is cut so the bottom hem hangs just below the apron or trim board running across the bottom of the window. The floor length style is cut so the bottom hem is just above the floor.

There are also be lined or unlined styles, depending upon the amount of natural light that is to be admitted to the room. Similarly, there are interlined styles, with a third layer sandwiched between the panel and the lining. They are designed to provide protection from cold air that is conducted from the outside to the inside through the glass, or air seeping through cracks in the windowsill or between the sash and the window frame.

Formal and informal styles

Curtains can be as varied as the individuals in whose homes they hang. Even with all of the variety in fabrics, colours, lengths and methods of hanging, all curtain styles can be classified as either formal or informal.

Formal window treatments are usually called draperies and hang in layers. They are most often found in formal parlors or sitting rooms, living rooms and formal dining rooms. The window treatment is usually done in two or three layers. The first layer is the sheer, which is often a single panel of sheer linen or lace that admits diffused light into the room. Sheers also tend to obscure visibility from the outside, especially if the lighting in the room is subdued. The second layer is usually the pleated floor length drapes. The drapes are suspended from traverse curtain rods if they are intended to be opened and closed. Drapes are hung from above the window and cover the side casing and trim of the window as they fall toward the floor. The third layer is the valance that runs above the window and covers the top of the window casing, trim and the heading of the draperies. Draperies and valances are often lined. Draperies may be below sill length although they are often floor length.

Everything else is informal curtains, usually hung in one or two layers. They are seldom lined, and are used to diffuse light, not to block it out.

Curtains are decorative, but have other uses as well, aside from providing privacy. They are useful in room darkening to protect room contents from the adverse effects of the sun’s UV rays. Sunlight can fade the colors in furniture and carpet fabrics. Lined curtains are especially good for protecting furniture and carpeting near windows facing either to the south or to the west.

There are many window covering options to the home decorator. The variety of styles, colours and fabrics give homeowners greater versatility in decorating than ever before.


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Rob Carston is a freelance writer who enjoys writing about window coverings and home decoration for his website http://www.curtains-drapes-coverings.com .

Decorating Your Home: 5 Style Tips that Cost Less than $50

Do you dream of adding style to your home but don’t have a lot of money? Don’t despair! There are 5 things you can do that will help your house look beautiful without spending much money.

1. Declutter your home.

Nothing zaps a great look like clutter. Look around you. Do you have paper plies or mail stacks? Do you just add to your knickknack collection rather than rotate your select favorites? When was the last time you saw the front of your refrigerator? Simple solutions that cost very little money are to invest in nice office trays, pretty bulletin boards and frames for your child’s artwork. Make the trash can handy to immediately toss unwanted mail. Taking away the clutter will make your space appear larger and help your treasured objects be emphasized rather than lost.

2. Make display surfaces pretty.

A key element in houses that are decorated by a professional rather than want-to-be is the art of accessorizing. Flat surfaces such as mantels, bookcases, and coffee tables are the perfect places to restyle for less. The one important point here is to keep it simple. Bookcases should only be 2/3 full. A mantle should not have mirror above it (a very dated look) – choose artwork instead. Place no more than three items on an end table – cluster these varied but related items together for more impact.

3. Paint to Impress.

Paint, as you know, makes the most dramatic change for the money. Be bold, be daring and most importantly -- don’t do white! Choose a complex color. This simply means if you would use several different words to describe the color than it is probably complex. For example; if you said it was a kinda “gold, straw, beige-y color” than it is probably a complex color. If you said “just yellow” - it probably is not a very inspiring look. A beautiful color on the walls can make the room go from ordinary to extraordinary in less than a day and usually for less than $50.

4. Make it personal

Decorating your house is a job but styling your home is fun. Personalization is putting your interests, hobbies or values into your décor to really make it your own. Buy simple – read inexpensive - curtains at your local big-box store and then buy exquisite wide ribbon to hot glue on the edge. Use your grandson’s first sneakers to tie back the den curtains. Use some family photos but just promise not to use too many. A guest coming for a visit may find all those staring eyes unnerving.

5. Change with the seasons.

You know the drill – lighter brighter for spring/summer and darker richer for fall/winter. This easy task of changing the fabric items around the home can help you make it seasonal. Change out placements, bath towels, and accent pillows. The final touch is to purchase a seasonal bouquet of flowers: fresh or fake- these centerpieces can add punch to a room.
Decorate your home by spending time not money in decluttering, painting and accessorizing. By following these simple tips, you can make a huge impact by bringing your home from average to spectacular for very little money.


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Julie Dana is a professional Interior Redesigner and Accredited Staging Professional. Her company, The Home Stylist, offers online decorating consultations, do-it-yourself decorating plans and real-estate staging.
Visit http://www.thehomestylist.com to take a fun style quiz, vote on a color poll, and sign up for free decorating e-newsletter.

Planning Your DIY Project

Ready to start your first serious DIY project? Read through the checklist below to make sure you are well prepared to start - and finish! - the job:

1. Do an overview of the project, making sure that you understand all its requirements. Sometimes imagining that you have been hired to do the job may help you take a better perspective on what it will take to complete the task.

2. Be realistic about your expectations. If you are just a beginning DIYer, consider completing a few small projects (like putting up shelves or fixing a garden fence) before attempting a major one. Ideally, for your first big DIY project you should select an area where it will least affect your lifestyle if left unfinished - for example, your basement or outdoors. Don't attempt replumbing the house as your first project!

3. Know where to seek help if needed. Your sources might include DIY books and magazines, relevant web sites, and DIY-savvy friends and relatives. If you are about to venture into a completely new territory, you might find it helpful to hire a professional for a few hours and try to learn the essential techniques from them.

4. Make a list of materials you need - and buy them all BEFORE you start the project. This will minimize the need for frustrating runs to the store, allowing you to completely focus on the job.
There are many online tools available for estimating the quantity of materials (like paint or tiles) that you need for a project - make use of those to save time. Some useful online estimators can be found here: http://www.construction-resource.com/construction-calculator.php. (It is also a good time saving idea to add about 10% to your calculated material requirements to allow for waste.)

5. Make a realistic budget. Remember to budget for little things such as nails, screws, hinges etc. The little things, when combined, tend to add up to significant amounts that are often overlooked during the planning stage.

6. Make a schedule. Be sure to allow for unexpected delays or having to redo parts of the project. If you project is based outdoors, don't forget to take weather conditions into account. Consider how possible interruptions in the project are likely to affect your daily routines, and plan accordingly. For example, if your place has only one bathroom, you would want to finish any bathroom renovation project as quickly as possible.

As with material estimators, there are time estimates available online and in printed sources on how long it takes to complete certain tasks. Again, adding 10% to the suggested time requirement may save you unnecessary frustration.

Remember that every project is unique. Think where you are most likely to encounter problems, and allow extra time for figuring out solutions. Some problems are fixed pretty quickly - it is figuring out how to do it that can be time consuming.

7. Know what motivates you best and have a strategy on how to stay motivated. It is important to understand what motivational strategy works best for you, and use it consistently. Have a clear goal in mind all the time while you are on the project. Asking yourself two simple questions - "what will happen if I do?" and "what will happen if I don't?"- is one effective motivational technique. This is especially true in the case of DIY, where your actions or lack thereof are likely to have immediate - and tangible - results.

8. Last but not least - don't beat yourself when something does not go according to plan, especially if you are just starting out. This includes bad time estimates that tend to be the number one cause of frustration in DIYers. Remember that no job is exactly the same no matter how many times you do it, so you cannot possibly plan for everything. That said, your estimating and project management skills should improve over time.


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Alan Woodbridge writes about DIY, home improvement, and personal motivation. He is a member of the team that runs DIYProjects.info: http://www.diyprojects.info.

Making your office energy saver can make good dollars and sense

(NC)-With the recent changes to energy prices, and summer temperatures also on the rise, now is a great time to think about conserving energy. Energy efficiency helps clear the air and conserve our energy supply-and it's good for your bottom line. Here are some actions your business can easily take today:

. The best first step is to analyze your energy use. Think about your heating and cooling practices, your equipment, and your lighting use. You may want to consider undertaking a full energy audit. In the meantime, think about your practices. Are your copiers running day and night? Are you lighting and cooling areas that are little used, or not in use at all?

. Then, set your business equipment for efficiency. Computers, monitors, printers, photocopiers and other business equipment are generally equipped with an energy saving standby or "sleep" feature. Ensure you have these features turned on, and make sure all equipment is turned off completely at the end of the day.

. Set your air conditioner to just a little less cool. The colder the setting, the greater your electricity costs. So by setting your system to 25C, instead of 22C, you can achieve significant savings. And when you close up, turn the air conditioner off. It takes less energy to restart it than to leave it running all the time.

. Consider motion sensors and timers for some of your lighting needs. Don't pay to light areas that are not being used. Motion detectors that turn lights on and off as people enter or leave a room are perfect for areas like storerooms and bathrooms. You might also set your outdoor signs on a timer set to turn them off after 1:00 am.

. And, whenever possible, just turn the lights out! There is no value in lighting offices overnight, or in lighting unused offices and conference rooms. So, turn out the lights whenever possible, and aim to lower overall lighting levels for more savings.

. Finally, when it's time to upgrade your equipment, think "Energy Star". This certification is your assurance that the appliance has met strict energy efficiency guidelines-and will use significantly less energy.

Conserving at work doesn't have to be difficult. And there's no better time than now to start cleaning the air-and saving money! For more ideas, visit the Ontario Ministry of Energy website at http://www.energy.gov.on.ca/, or call 1-888-668-4636.

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provided by News Canada.

Home Fragrance in Vogue

The home fragrance market is booming. From perfume, toiletries, and cosmetics to pre packaged foods. It is currently a multi billion dollar industry that continues to show strong growth. The strongest growth has taken place in the last 5 years and is expected to continue through 2007 and beyond. Western Europe, Japan, and the US continue to lead with 65 percent of demand and over three-quarters of world wide production of home fragrance products. Rapid growth of home fragrance sales has also been registered in Asia/Pacific, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.

Market researchers attribute the growing trend of home fragrance popularity in the US to the fact that we are spending more time at home. We are using home fragrances to UN-stress ourselves and make our indoor environment a healthier and more pleasing place to be. And we like it, it makes us feel good. Consumer research is quite convincing. People feel better about themselves and are more comfortable at home when a home fragrance delivery system in use.

Market researchers also point out that consumers are eagerly embracing home fragrance products that neutralize odors and bacteria in our indoor air, not just cover them up. A stylish home fragrance delivery system which can be displayed as decor in the home or work place. Consumers desire an attractive as well as efficient home fragrance delivery system.

There are many home fragrance delivery systems available to us today. From the plug-ins, solids, and sprays, to name a few, which temporarily mask or cover up odors and are readily available in the local supermarket. To the stylish and very much in vogue Fragrance Lamps which you won't find in the local supermarket. Fragrance Lamps can be found in specialty gift and decor shops, and on line. One such Fragrance Lamp is the La Tee Da collection of fragrance lamps. http://www.coronetgiftsolutions.com/la-tee-da_effusion_lamps.asp La Tee Da is leading the way in home fragrance effusion lamp technology. La Tee Da's exclusive scalloped burner design enhances the home fragrance experience. La Tee Da fragrance lamps or effusion lamps as they are sometimes called are made of hand blown art glass. These fragrance lamps come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. La Tee Da fragrance lamps befit any decor, home or work place.

Sonia Perez of Coronet Gift Solutions http://www.coronetgiftsolutions.com in Florida says her retail customers are becoming creative in their approach to home fragrance. "They like to have different fragrances for each room of their houses. Say, Verbena in the bedroom and Sandalwood Mahogany in the living room or den." Some of her customers fragrance 3 or 4 rooms, each with a different fragrance. Sonia recommends fragrance lamps because of their style and their ability to sanitize the air while they fragrance it. "Fragrance lamps are great! And collectable too." She also supplies interior designers who love using fragrance lamps as a decor embellishment. "The La Tee Da lamps work well as an attractive accent piece to the design scheme and at the same time fragrance and sanitize the room or entire house, and their clients adore them" .Pure indoor air has become a priority with consumers says Sonia. "Women want more than just pretty air; they want clean air at home and at the office."

The La Tee Da fragrance lamp catalytic conversion process is the same as that used by the old time European catalytic burner (effusion lamp) of Justus Von Liebig. Using this catalytic conversion La Tee Da fragrance lamps are highly efficient at sanitizing indoor air, not masking it. These fragrance lamps kill bacteria, including odor causing bacteria, and the unpleasant smells from dirty laundry, pets, mold, musty closets, and bathrooms. Frying fish tonight? No problem. La Tee Da to the rescue! Cooking odors neutralized, fast. Not just temporarily masked. Automobile manufacturers utilize the same catalytic conversion process on the cars we drive to reduce or eliminate noxious fumes, smoke, and odors from automobile exhaust.

In Europe, before the days of modern electronic indoor air purification, the catalytic burner (effusion lamp) was used extensively in institutions such as hospitals, medical clinics and other facilities that required a high degree of indoor air purity. German holistic chemist Justus Von Liebig discovered that through the oxidation of primary alcohols the effusion lamp was efficient in neutralizing bacteria, allergens, and other impurities in the air including smoke and foul odors.
Aware of the health benefits of the effusion lamp, the French began to add liquid fragrance to their effusion lamps. Leave it to the French to transform the effusion lamp into the home fragrance delivery system we today call fragrance lamps. http://www.coronetgiftsolutions.com/la-tee-da_fragrance_lampes.asp Fragrance lamps have for many years been a fixture in homes across the European Continent and are rapidly gaining popularity in North America. Why? Because fragrance lamps sanitize as well as fragrance your indoor oxygen. Neurologist Alan Hirsh director of the Smell and Taste Treatment Center of Chicago has studied fragrance and the positive relation it can have as an aid in learning, reducing or increasing the desire to eat, and in arousal.

Retailers and restaurateurs are taking notice of the power of fragrance. Case studies of restaurants and retail shops using fragrance delivery systems to create ambiance and a perceived pleasurable shopping experience are quite satisfied with the results of fragrance. Customer surveys consistently prove that fragrance ranks high among reasons for customer loyalty to a particular store or eatery. Also customer word of mouth advertising regarding the fragrant environment brings in new customers. Retailers are exploring the power of fragrance, or scent to stimulate favorable emotional and behavioral responses of consumers. Hirsh also points out that the Nobel Prize in medicine was last year granted to researchers who discovered how olfactory receptor cells enable humans to recognize and store in memory 10.000 different odors. Hirsh states, "I think we are going to be seeing interior decorating with smells in the future, the same way we do with color." Sounds good to me. Decorate my bedroom in Verbena, my bathroom in Lavender, and my kitchen in Cinnamon Apple. Fragrance me with Bayberry in the den and Fresh Cut Clover in the laundry room. Sound good to you too? You bet it does!


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Carol A Cass, the successful owner of “Interior Design by Carol” in Tampa Bay Florida was born and brought up in NYC where she resides with her husband and two children. Before relocating to Florida, Carol was a senior designer and general manager at one of New York's most prestigious design house. She designs unique and creative interior living spaces of all types and themes like water front to rural ranch. Carol received her Bachelors Degree in Interior Designing from the Harrington College of Design in Chicago. http://www.coronetgiftsolutions.com
coronetgiftsolutions@yahoo.com

How To Choose The Perfect Granite Work Surface

My Grandmother used to say to me “Nothing cheap is good and nothing good is cheap”. This ring true when dealing with the purchase especially on the internet of Granite Work Surfaces. In fact of all stone so read carefully.

Natural stone is graded as to it’s suitability for a given task. It is also graded regarding the region of the world it originated from. This is a grade for general use but more for stone professionals to advise architects, surveyors etc which products to use for maximum efficiency in the building or home.

When buying on the internet you are usually shown samples of the very best, Granite, Marble, Limestone etc. You must be aware that this stone is probably not what you will receive. Firstly, the stone is batched. You need batched stone to get the consistent pattern throughout the surface. If you were to buy stone today and return for stone a month later to complete your project you will invariably get a mismatch that can look horrendous especially with the larger crystals such as blue pearl granite.

Always make sure you are receiving the same batch and have it itemised on your order. Also if the installer chips a corner or scratches the surface you will generally need a replacement piece. If the batch isn’t available you may have a problem.

I have received numerous calls lately concerning the fading of black granite counter tops. Black granite should not fade. Black granite imported from Asia is sometimes doctored with dyes and oils to darken the surface. The fading is nothing more than the dyes and oils being removed. Unfortunately, the only fix is to re-polish the top. This can be costly.

Before purchasing a granite top perform the following test to find out if it has been doctored.

Get a clean white cloth and apply some acetone (nail varnish remover) to the surface of the granite. If any residue or black color is observed on the top, do not accept it, it has been dyed.

Take a piece of the "granite" you want to test and spill a few drops of lemon juice onto it. If you see that under the drops of lemon it develops very quickly dark spots, it means that it's a very absorbent stone and I would advise you against it. If it takes, say, a minute or so to be absorbed, then you're dealing with a level of absorbency that's easily controllable with the application of a good quality impregnating sealer.

So, in short be careful where you place your order and always seek specialist advice. The void between a good stone and a bad stone is huge, the price between a good stone and a bad stone is smaller than you think but can be costlier.


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Edward Green owns and operates the highly successful Marble Master Ltd Company. Marble Master specializes in Restoration and Refinishing of all types of natural stone and consultancy services to Architects, Restoration Companies and Interior Designers. http://www.marblemasteruk.com.

Garden Sheds - More Than Just Storage

You may already have a garage or a shed in your garden or backyard and its possible that you haven't even considered the prospect of adding a garden shed at all. Any garden implements could easily be stored in the garage or utility area. However, a garden shed(http://www.sheds.gb.com/GardenSheds.html) is so much more than just an every day storage area, as it can have a character all of its own. It can serve many purposes other than practical ones.

A garden shed can be used as a place to plan and plot your garden's development or just as a place of sanctuary and contemplation. A garden shed can also be used to add depth and character to a garden or even as the focal point with the garden designed to complement the shed. For the uninitiated a garden shed is just another shed. However, there are many different styles, which can add their own individual charm and character to your garden.

The first thing you have to do before adding a shed is to obviously decide its location. The location of the shed will help determine the size and style of the shed. You need to consider many different things such as ease of access, how the shed will look in the chosen area, security, practicality and so on. When the location has been decided and the size of the shed determined then the next thing to so is lay the base. You can use a layer of gravel or build a concrete base. Whatever the base though, it should be level. Do not contemplate adding a shed straight onto the grass. While this may seem obvious people will do it ! It is important that the wooden shed should not be contact with the ground to avoid the wood rotting. Another alternative is to lay the shed on timbers.

The type of shed is the important decision. The choices are simple metal, plastic or wooden sheds (http://www.sheds.gb.com/WoodenSheds.html). Whatever the structure in your garden these are the three basic materials used and the characteristics remain the same for each. Wood provides the classical look, plastic is cheaper and metal is stronger. At the end of day, if the shed is in general view then wood is the preferred solution. An ugly looking plastic or metal shed can ruin he look of a garden.

Another important decision is whether to build the shed yourself or get a professional to do it. Although shed kits usually give you a substantial discount, they require much more time and energy. Some kits even require you to cut the timber to size before you can start building. Having said that the decision is relatively easy if your honest with yourself about your DIY capabilities.

Once, the shed is in place you need to give the wood some protection. While the materials will come with a gaurantee, you should still regularly add a protective coating. If you are putting together a kit, a good tip is to paint as much of the shed as possible before assembly, since it is much easier to paint some parts of the shed before assembly, rather than standing on a ladder to do it.

Unless you are getting a particularly large or unusual shed, it is unlikely you will need planning permission, but always check. You don't want to be moving a full sized shed several feet, so you want to be sure you have it in the right place to begin with.

The typical garden sheds are either apex sheds> or pent sheds. These come in many sizes starting from 2 x 1 metres or 5 x 3 feet upwards. A good idea also is to use the sloping roofs to capture water, which is essential through long hot dry periods.

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You can find more articles from Matthew Anthony at http://www.sheds.gb.com.

Protecting Your Limestone Floor Investment

There are many types of limestone. These vary a great deal in terms of porosity and hardness, as well as in colour and texture. However limestone, although very hard wearing and durable is porous and therefore prone to staining. Limestone is also not resistant to acid and harsh cleaning products, as well as spillages of acidic soft drinks, fruit juices, wine and vinegar etc can all damage the stone. The Limestone Treatment System protects limestone against such damage and ensures that it stays looking its best with the least possible effort.

Method

All new porous limestone floors need to be sealed either before fixing or before grouting with a suitable Impregnator. Our product offers a free 15 year performance warranty which means if the sealer doesn't stop staining we will come back free of charge and apply more sealant to stop staining. We have only had 1 callback for more protection out of literally hundreds of projects. The coverage is around 4 - 8 m2 per litre. We offer the application process but you can apply it yourself if you want to. Apply as many coats as can absorbed. These will reduce the porosity which not only helps protect against staining, but also enhances the natural beauty of the material and acts as the foundation for the surface finish.

If you decide to go the DIY route please make sure you evenly cover the tile with the impregnator. Once it becomes nearly dry you will need to wipe the tile with a clean white terry cloth to get an even texture across the tile, this is very important. Always work in one direction and not in a haphazard fashion as streaks will appear.

It is possible to purchase Limestone tiles that have been "dipped". Dipping means that a tile has been submerged into a tank containing an impregnator of sorts and thus has a protection element attached to it. This method is costly and before anyone tells you it has been "dipped" ask to test the porosity by taking some of the tile you are purchasing and scrutinize it with whatever liquids you generally use and or spill at home.

Once the flooring has been impregnated and allowed to dry it can be easily maintained with our Limestone dressing that cleans, maintains and offers some protective properties every time it is used, it is also an environmentally friendly product that is fully biodegradable.

It really isn’t that more expensive to have professional sealant company such as Marble Master Ltd perform the sealing of the stone for you and you would qualify for the 15 year performance warranty. It is almost like having a free maintenance company on hand for the spillages you can’t remove. The warranty is a guarantee from the sealant manufacturer.

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter on your web site as long as the byline is included and the article is included in it's entirety. I also ask that you activate any html links found in the article and in the byline. Please send a courtesy link or email where you publish to: support@marblemasteruk.com

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Edward Green owns and operates the highly successful Marble Master Ltd Company. Marble Master specializes in Restoration and Refinishing of all types of natural stone and consultancy services to Architects, Restoration Companies and Interior Designers. http://www.marblemasteruk.com.

“Too Much Stuff” Syndrome or How Decorating and Organizing Can Help Your Sanity

This area of home life is different from others in that it involves all the senses and to that degree it is successful, engendering varying emotions. Decorating isn't really a hobby, nor is it merely an activity; it's a driving force of many people to live in comfortable and pleasing surroundings while they regenerate from a stressful world.

Yet, decorating by itself is not nearly as completely satisfying as having an organized home that is rich in beautiful detail. Decorating and organizing go hand-in-hand, like a one-two punch of home completion.

In an effort to motivate you to action, use these suggestions to help you on your way to an organized home this spring and summer.

Paper Clutter

1. If you’re like my dear Mother and you still have newspapers from 1978 because you haven’t read them all: Don’t walk, RUN to the sanitation department and rent an industrial sized dumpster to leave in your driveway for a week.

2. I’m giving you permission to touch your incoming mail and papers more than once – only if the second “touching” is on the way to the dumpster.

3. You know that pile of “things to file” that keeps growing? Guess what – dump that too. You can always print off another copy or send away for the info. over the Internet. (This, coming from the daughter of a paper monster…)

Clothing

Twice a year, my mom would make me try on clothes for the upcoming season. She would invariably choose cold mornings to try on summer things and the hottest day on record to slip into woolens and flannels… (If your kids give you flack for trying on clothes in the comfort of air conditioning, you may use this as your own example.) If you haven’t worn something in the time it took you to have your second child, it’s probably not worth hanging on to (unless, of course, the dumpster is full).

Use a great tip I just discovered: Pick three nights a week to try on 5 items in your closet, then go to your dressers and do the same thing. At this rate, the average American woman should be able to go through all her clothes in about 3 years, 9 months and 14 days. No need to worry, it’ll be a different season then!

Kids’ Toys

1. You could try to “limit” the number of toys they play with each month and cycle them to and from the garage so your little ones get variety.
2. That takes too much effort. I just threatened my boys if they left toys out on their floor at bedtime, they would be in the dumpster the next day (the toys, silly!). Do this twice, and you’ll have this hot spot under control.

I hope these points have given you some new ways to look at the problem of clutter and refreshing methods to deal with them. Given the fun you’ll have with that dumpster, you might want to consider renting a second one for the hubby’s stuff.

I’ll tell you what. If you really do rent a dumpster (okay, it can be the smaller version) I’ll have a reward for your diligence. Ladies – Email me that you filled your dumpster to the very tippy top and something funny that happened during the process. I’ll send you a coupon for a discount on a Fragrance Lamp that will fill your home with lovely aromas. Gentlemen – Email me the same (that is, that you actually rented the thing and filled it, and an amusing related story) and I will send you a Gift Certificate for your wife. Such a deal!

Publishing Guidelines: You may publish this article with the article and resource box intact and unchanged provided any links are hyperlinked. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. (The challenge paragraph may be omitted for space.)

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Lisa DeClue is a WAHM and really does love her Mother. She owns Decorating with HGPgal, a website that incorporates interior and garden/patio decorating resources, articles, tips and a monthly newsletter in addition to a unique business opportunity with Home & Garden Party. Subscribe to the newsletter at http://HGPgal.com/newsletter.html and be entered into the monthly prize drawing.
"Making A Difference One Person & One Home At A Time"™
Lisa@HGPgal.com

How To Use Flower Beds In Landscaping Your Garden

The loveliness of flowering plants needs little embellishment by description. Certainly every gardener seeks the beauty and color that can be brought to his grounds by a variety of flowers. The proper arrangement of flower beds in your garden and attentive care to them can insure you a continuing bloom of lovely flowers year after year.

For with planning, it is possible to maintain flowers in your garden during the entire length of the growing season. Borders and beds are planted with flowering annuals and perennials which bloom at different periods during the year. By choosing carefully initially, and by caring for the flowers thereafter, the blooms will overlap each other, so that there will never be a period when an old bloom disappears but that a new one will start to show its color.

Preparing the soil for flower beds or borders requires greater care than planting a lawn. For one thing, digging must be deeper. It is not too much to dig the bed 2 feet deep, although 1 1/2 feet is suitable. It is, of course, possible to grow flowers in a shallower bed than this, but the deeper you dig, the better your production will be.

All heavy lumps should be broken up. It is a good idea to spread some sand, cinders or ashes in the bottom soil to break it up. Also, you might work manure, well-rotted compost, grass clippings or peat moss into the bottom. Do not firm the bottom soil down, but let it settle naturally.

Good loam should be used for the topsoil — e.g., well-rotted manure, humus, peat moss, well-sifted leaf mold or heavy sand. Wood ashes are fine for spring, and lime may be used for loosening the soil. You might think about the character of your soil and consider the particular fertilizer which contains the elements your soil needs most. Should you use manure, be careful not to let it touch the roots of plants.

Should you use manure, be careful not to let it touch the roots of plants. The problems of color should be kept in mind when planning flower borders and beds, so that while there is sufficient contrast in texture and color of the flowers, there is at the same time an attractive blending.
A plan for a bed of annuals, for example, might be designed to stress zinnias, with contrast provided by such softer flowers as chrysanthemum, scabiosa, nasturtium, cosmos and candytuft. Siting of the flower bed is important. Ideally, it should be close to the house, facing south or south west.

Any location that gets good sun, however, will produce well. The border should be located away from trees or shrubs. These plants absorb more than their share of moisture and nutrients from the soil and, because of their strength, can overpower the more delicate flowering plants.

A good background such as a stone wall or a fence adds to the beauty of a flower bed or border, and evergreen shrubs make a pleasing backdrop. Edgings need not be restricted, as they so often are, to one color (e.g., the white of alyssum).

Coral bells, whose lovely foliage makes a handsome edge, are an all-season flowering plant, and they provide unusual cut flowers. Baby pansies, violas, portulaca, ageratum, dwarf double nasturtium and dwarf marigolds are multi-colored flowers.

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Paul Curran is CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Trees-and-Bushes.com, providing a range of quality plants, trees, bushes, shrubs, seeds and outdoor garden products.
Website: http://www.trees-and-bushes.com

More Types Of Shrub To Use In Your Garden

Buddleia, the butterfly bush, is 16 feet or more if not killed back by winter, and gets its name from the fact that in the summer, butterflies are always seen around it. The buddleia takes many forms: as a small - leaved shrub with small purple flowers; as fascinating, a cattleya-pink bush; as flaming violet, a brilliant purple, and as white profusion, a dwarf variety with pure white flowers. Also the Empire blue shrub, the dubonnet, the red glory and white cloud.

Flowering quince (Cydonia) has roselike flowers and a scarlet bloom in spring. Japanese quince grows to 6 feet; has orange-scarlet flowers.

Deutzia is an easily grown shrub, pleasing for the many small flowers in spring. Types include the 2- to 3-foot pink deutzia, with its delicate flowers; the pride of Rochester, with large double white flowers, and Deutzia Lemoinei, which has large, pure white flowers.

Other shrubs are the dwarf buckeye, which blossoms in July with 12-inch spikes; the chokeberry bush, liked for its decorative fruit; broom, which grows in sandy places and blooms in June and July, and witch hazel, a shrub that grows to 20 feet and has spidery yellow flowers.

Forsythia is a welcome shrub because it needs little care; with its drooping sprays of yellow flowers, it is useful for softening the lines of walls.

Hibiscus blooms in August, a rarity, with flowers that are large and purple, or rose-pink or white. It grows to 12 feet if unpruned. Hydrangea, another shrub with large blossoms blooming in July and August, is a showy bush, with big blue globe-shaped clusters.

Honeysuckle bushes are useful for mass planting. Some varieties are especially enjoyable because they blossom in February and March. Several spirea varieties are found to be useful as screen plantings, particularly because of their dense growth and abundant flowering. Anthony Waterer spirea is a 2-foot bush with white or rose-pink clusters.

Bridal wreath has profuse white clusters in May. Spirea Thunbergii also has white flowers, and Spirea Vanhouttei, 8 feet high with dense white flowers, is used as a living fence.
Viburnum (the popular snowball) is 10 to 12 feet high at maturity and is used for high foundation, screening and hedges. It has white snowball-shaped flowers and foliage turns crimson in fall.

Weigela is popular, too, in many varieties, including the variegated weigela, a dwarf shrub with rose flowers and variegated silvery leaf. There is also Weigela rosea, with rosy trumpet-shaped flowers, and the new brilliant cardinal shrub.

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Paul Curran is CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Trees-and-Bushes.com, providing a range of quality plants, trees, bushes, shrubs, seeds and outdoor garden products.
Website: http://www.trees-and-bushes.com

The Three Main Parts Of A Tree

Trees can be broken down into three main parts: the roots, the leaves and the woody structure between them. The roots' function is to bring raw materials-water and mineral salt dissolved in water-to the tree. The leaves absorb carbon dioxide from the air and use the sun's light energy to combine this gas with the moisture from the roots, thus making the simple sugars that are the basic nutrients of the tree.

The trunk, limbs, branches and twigs hold the leaves in position to receive the life-giving sunlight and air; they also act as transportation, carrying raw materials between roots and leaves. The materials absorbed by the roots are pulled up by capillary attraction and the osmotic action induced by evaporation of water from the leaves. Loss of water through the leaves is called transpiration.

On a summer day, a single birch tree may transpire 700 to 900 gallons of water. It is this enormous flow of water that causes a continuous flow of sap from the roots to the topmost twigs.
In planting or transplanting a tree, and in building on a lot where you wish to preserve the trees, the gardener's chief consideration must be to protect the root structure of the tree. The big roots near the stem anchor the tree to the ground, while the fine root hairs at the ends of the rootlets absorb the water from the soil.

The stem or trunk of a tree has three parts: the bark, the wood and the pith. The pith is the central part and around it is the wood. Between wood and bark is the cambium, a thin layer that produces new wood and bark. When the cambium ring is severed, as by a wire cable, the tree is killed, and since the cambium protects against insects and disease, anything driven into it can wound the tree severely.

Outside of man himself, trees have countless enemies.

There are 200,000 known kinds of insects that attack trees, in addition to diseases such as blight, rust and rot, storms and droughts. Luckily, birds help to keep caterpillars, borers, beetles and other insects in check.


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Paul Curran is CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Trees-and-Bushes.com, providing a range of quality plants, trees, bushes, shrubs, seeds and outdoor garden products.
Website: http://www.trees-and-bushes.com

Home Improvement NEW REVOLUTIONARY PRODUCT

Improve your patio, driveway or swimming pool with Crystal Concrete Designs.


At Crystal Concrete, We have the product to meet all of your paving needs. The endless opportunities will appeal to your discerning taste. And the affordable nature of Crystal Concrete will present countless possibilities for decorating your home or business.

Crystal Concrete is not comparable to any other tiles or natural stones available on the US market today.

Crystal Concrete is a perfect paving solution for your driveway, patio, walkway, swimming pool and much, much more. Builders, do-it-yourself companies, building supply companies, landscapers, swimming pool installers, etc will find this product a remarkable product to offer to their customers.

Crystal Concrete has been designed in Europe with the latest technology and has to offer the following benefits:

50% Less heat absorbent

Non-Slippery surface

Many colors to choose from

Colors will not fade unevenly

Multiple designs

Up to 20000 lbs. Strength (installed on concrete and sealed (1 inch only))

Custom colors can be made to fit your needs

Virtually unbreakable

NO WASTE

Interlocking paving stones


Special Colors:

Any color can be made per your request.
98% Color mach guaranteed*

Because of their classic style and durable structure, Crystal Concrete patios, driveways and walkways will literally weather the test of time. The more the sun bakes into them, the more beautiful they become. So perfectly practical, the Crystal Concrete patios gives you ample opportunities for entertaining, relaxing and enjoying the outdoors.

THERE ARE THREE DESIGNS AVAILABLE PLEASE CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION!
only one shown on the picture




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CRYSTAL CONCRETE
1102 Technology Dr. Suite D
Indian Trail, NC 28079
http://eHomeImprovement.blogspot.com
Toll-free: (877) 326-8872
Phone: (704) 622-8727
Fax: (704) 847-3771
Email: crystalconcrete@yahoo.com

Copyright 2005, eHome Improvement

Types Of Vines For Landscaping Your Home

For covering walls of houses, boulders, stone walls, etc., the ivies are, of course, used more than other vines. Boston ivy is the quickest growing. Japanese bittersweet [Euonymus radicans) is a good vine for walls, too; evergreen, it grows well on the north sides of buildings as well as on exposed locations. Winter-creeper, in both large and small-leaved varieties, is a hardy vine for wall planting.

Other vines that can cling without aid to concrete, brick and stone include Chinese trumpetcreeper, English ivy, Lowe ivy and Virginia creeper, sometimes called woodbine or American ivy. Virginia creeper is the ivy that twines around trees and covers the ground in woodlands, and while it makes a good building cover, it does become heavy and require thinning out as it grows older. Virginia creeper is also effective for providing shade. (Other shade-producing vines are grape, Dutchman's pipe and silver vine.)

Many vines which are not self-supporting can be trellis-trained, and can add color and beauty to a house. Among the more showy varieties are wisteria, with its clusters of white to purple blos soms; clematis, which has a large flower appearing from early summer until fall; and trumpetcreep-er, with its tropical-looking clusters of big scarlet and orange flowers during late summer.

There is also trumpet honeysuckle, which has clusters of red and yellow perfumed flowers; and climbing hydrangea, with its large white clusters. Some of the annual vines, such as the hyacinth bean which grows on strings and has many flowers, or the scarlet runner bean which has showy flowers, are good for shade, too.

For covering banks and ground where you have difficulty with grass, you might try periwinkle (also called running myrtle), an evergreen which has blue flowers all summer. Another evergreen is pachysandra, mentioned elsewhere; and there is moneywort which flattens against the ground.

Some attractive and fragrant-blossoming annuals that you might also consider are: nasturtium; bal-foon vine, which is good to cover fences; cypress vine, with a large number of small star-shaped flowers in orange, red and white, and the familiar morning-glory and moonflower plants.


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Paul Curran is CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Trees-and-Bushes.com, providing a range of quality plants, trees, bushes, shrubs, seeds and outdoor garden products.
Website: http://www.trees-and-bushes.com

How to Prune Plum Trees

In this article you will find out how to prune plum trees. One of several articles on how to prune fruit trees. Pruning plum trees is straightforward, once the trees are established, and consists mainly of thinning out overcrowded wood. Some rather more detailed pruning is, however, necessary in the early years, in order to build up a suitable framework.

How to prune plum trees - Maiden tree:

If a maiden tree is planted, that is, a tree within one year of budding or grafting, pruning may be carried out in the Spring, after deciding on tree form. Generally plums will be grown as half-standards having a main stem about 4 ft. in length, before the branch system.

An open centre is aimed at, the main branch system forming the outside, with young wood filling in the interior. This method of forming the half standard tree can also be used for Apples and Pears.

Assuming a maiden tree has been purchased, this would be planted in the Autumn and, later on, when the tree has settled down, and you are wondering how to prune plum trees, it should be pruned to a bud, 9 to 12 inches above the height of the lowest branch desired.

In the following season shoots will grow from buds below the top, and the most suitable are left, ensuring that they are well spaced and at a wide angle to the stem. Other shoots are removed, leaving about 5 or so which will form the main branch system.

The top bud will grow strongly; this can be offset by making a nick below it with a knife, forcing more growth into the lower buds. Wide angled branches can be encouraged by making small notches in the bark above selected buds; the topmost shoot can be removed later. Any growth arising below the position of the lowest branch should merely be shortened for the first year or two before removing, as they assist in thickening the stem.

The selected branches are subsequently pruned to a suitable outward pointing bud, during the first year or two, one third to one half of the new wood being removed; afterwards this is reduced to mere tipping which is discontinued altogether eventually. The tree will consist of 6 to 7 well-spaced main branches, growing from them and lateral growths which will form the bulk of the fruiting wood.

How to prune plum trees - 2 or 3-year-old If the tree has been purchased as a 2 or 3-year-old, it is advisable to defer pruning for one year after planting. The branch system of such a tree will already have been formed. After the framework of the tree has been formed, subsequent pruning will consist of cutting out dead and diseased wood, badly placed wood crossing, or too upright growth, and ensuring that the growth remaining is well spaced.

How to prune plum trees - Drooping varieties:

Certain varieties have a drooping habit. Although during the early years this factor need not influence pruning unduly, as the tree becomes established the drooping tendency will be more pronounced.

It will be necessary to prune branch leaders to an upward-pointing bud, and not to an outward one, as in upright growing varieties. Similarly, lower branches will hang down, and may have to be shortened eventually to a more suitable subsidiary branch.

How to prune plum trees - Silver Leaf Disease:

This serious disease of Plums enters the tissues through open wounds and cuts. It is able to do so during the winter and most readily infects wood through large cuts which expose the heart. During the formation period of the tree, pruning can be carried out in the early Spring, as cuts are relatively small.

On established trees, however, it is better to defer pruning until late Spring or Summer, and to perform this operation during dry weather, especially where large wounds are made.
The natural gums exuded at this time assist healing. Broken branches should be sawn off neatly, and all large wounds protected with white lead paint. Always use a sharp, curved blade knife, or a good pair of secateurs, for pruning. Avoid "jagged" cuts, which can lead to damage, and do not cut too closely to the topmost bud.

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Paul Curran is CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Trees-and-Bushes.com, providing a range of quality plants, trees, bushes, shrubs, seeds and outdoor garden products.
Website: http://www.trees-and-bushes.com

Planting And Care Of Shrubs

In general, trees and shrubs are planted and cared for in the same way, the difference between them being chiefly one of height. One definition of the difference, however, is that while a tree has only one trunk, a shrub has several stems or trunks.

Not so long ago the number of reliable shrubs was quite limited, but today the many new hybrids have lengthened the list and the gardener's choice is almost endless. No matter the region, it is now possible to plant shrubs that will satisfy color needs, bloom at various seasons, cover bare spots where grass won't grow, or grow in such profusion and depth that screening purposes are served.

Shrubs are valuable to the gardener because they bridge the gap between trees and flowers. As do trees, they serve as boundary markers, soften the lines of buildings, act as a decorative background for flower beds and hide unsightly views.

Like flowers, they add character and shape to the garden, blooming forth with colorful blossoms and attracting birds with their berries. One big item in their favor is that they mature rapidly, yet remain as hardy and long-lived as trees.

Planting of shrubs is tittle different from planting of trees. Early spring is the most favorable time since it gives the plant a long spell of good growing weather to get reestablished. In the milder sections of the country, however, transplanting may be done through the winter months. In New England, evergreens may be planted in September and May, and deciduous shrubs in October and May.

Dry roots are the chief cause of planting failures, and steps should be taken to prevent this—i.e., balling and burlapping, and heeling in. After receiving shrubs from a nursery, water as soon as possible; shade them from sunshine at first, mulch the ground around them, and prune back severely.

The older the plant you get, the more severely it will have to be cut back, so that in the long run, you come out just as well buying the less expensive, smaller shrubs. Forsythia and azalea may be moved while in flower, but most plants should not.

Watering in the fall, before the ground freezes, is important for box, azalea, rhododendron, mountain laurel and broadleaf evergreens, whose leaves lose moisture in winter.

Pruning of shrubs helps to keep them young and vigorous. Rather than cutting all branches off to an even length, prune out the older branches, even though they may be sound. With lilacs, for example, use a keyhole saw, and cut as close to the ground as possible, cutting out the oldest stems.

Some shrubs need pruning every year, especially those which have dead branches as a result of winterkill. (These include some deutzias, hydrangeas, buddleia, spireas and privets.) Other shrubs such as rhododendron, azaleas, magnolia and buddleia should have the flower heads pruned off after blooming.


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Paul Curran is CEO of Cuzcom Internet Publishing Group and webmaster at Trees-and-Bushes.com, providing a range of quality plants, trees, bushes, shrubs, seeds and outdoor garden products.
Website: http://www.trees-and-bushes.com

Home Pest Control: Battling Against Mosquitoes on the Home Front

In addition to the fact that mosquitoes are both annoying and cause some level of discomfort when you’re unfortunate enough to be the entree on their daily menu, they also carry disease which can affect the animal, bird and human populations. In order to keep the possibility of such a fate to a minimum, you’ll need to initiate steps to control these pests in the home environment.

Water that accumulates in tires, buckets and other types of outdoor containers provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Your yard should be carefully inspected for any signs of pooled water that might attract these insects. It doesn’t take much to entice mosquitoes to hang around, once they’ve found a swampy area that they can call home.

Gutters should be checked on a regular basis, in order to avoid the accumulation of leaves and other objects that might form a blockage. When this happens, water can accumulate and offer the irresistible temptation for mosquitoes to breed. This is especially true in those climates which experience autumn, since fallen leaves are abundant and the foliage is often damp due to rain.

Children’s wading pools can be the equivalent of a spa for mosquitoes. Be sure to empty the pool at least once each week and refill it with fresh water, if the pool is in constant use. When it’s not being used, empty and dry it thoroughly and store it indoors – within a storage shed, basement, garage or other structure that can accommodate its dimensions.

Make it a point to fill holes or depressions in the ground around your home, as well as hollow stumps or holes within the trunks of trees. These, too, can gather water and lure mosquitoes to nest in the area. Be sure not to use foliage, grass or some other type of natural product that might serve to retain water and become akin to a comfy mattress on the mosquitoes’ bed.

Screens, doors, windows and other entryways that may contain holes or other violations of their integrity should be repaired in order to keep mosquitoes from entering the home. Of course, it goes without saying that doors and windows that don’t include screens should never be left ajar. This would be the equivalent of ringing the dinner bell for these pesky insects.

If you should happen to have an ornamental water garden on your property, be sure to keep the water stocked with mosquito-eating fish, such as goldfish, minnows or guppies. When mosquitoes hover over the water – which they’re inclined to do – the fish will eat them and help to reduce their population around your home.

Other precautions, such as covering trash cans, barrels and stored boats will also help your efforts at pest control, but don’t rely on bug zappers. These do very little to discourage mosquitoes from taking residence around your home. Your focus should, instead, be on ridding yourself of the excess water that may have accumulated in key points around your property.

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Sarah Yee is a writer for http://www.mosquitocontrolguide.com, which mosquito information and mosquito control tips both at home and on the road.

Should Baby Bedding Be Tight or Loose?

Many parents already know that it is better not to use bedding with small babies. It would be better for them to be dressed in something that will keep them warm. In case you feel the need to use bedding, you should be careful for it not to be very soft. It is preferable to use a sheet and a blanket, and not a comforter or duvet.

A baby under the age of three months can be swaddled in the blanket while older babies or younger ones who cry if they are swaddled, should be made the bed at the bottom. You should put the baby’s feet against the footboard of the crib. The bedding should be tucked into the bottom of the bed, then you should bring the blankets and sheets up, across the chest, and tuck them in. If you do that, the baby cannot wriggle down and get his face covered by the bedding.

There are baby sleeping bags that can be bought, or you can make one of your own. They are like a sleep suit, they have cutouts for the arms, and a zipper at the front of the suit. There shouldn’t be a hood. These sleeping bags are a very good solution to the problem of bedding, because they cannot cause suffocation and they keep the baby covered during the night.


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Dominic is the author of this article. This article may be reproduced on websites subject to credit being given to the author, and a link to his website. If you would like more information go to http://www.babybeddingsources.com.

A Brief History of Candles

For centuries man’s progress has been lighted by candles. However, people know only very few things about the origin of candles. It has been written that the first candles were made by the Ancient Egyptians. They used rushlights, or torches, made by soaking the pithy core of reeds in molten tallow. Unlike the candles, the rushlights had no wick. The Romans were the ones who it is said to have developed the wick candle. They used it to help travellers at dark, and to light homes and places of worship during the night.

America's first contribution to candle-making was made by colonial women who discovered that if they boiled the grayish green berries of bayberry bushes they got a sweet-smelling wax that burned clean. But it was extremely tedious to extract the wax from the bayberries so their popularity soon diminished. The first important change in candle making since the Middle Ages was bought by the growth of the whaling industry in the late 18th century. Spermaceti, a wax obtained by crystallizing sperm whale oil, was available in large quantities. The spermaceti wax, as well as beeswax, did not smell unpleasantly when burned. Even more importantly, spermaceti wax was harder than tallow and beeswax and it did not soften or bend because of the summer heat. Historians write that the first candles as we know them were made from spermaceti wax.

During the 19th century, people made most of the changes in candle making. In 1834, Joseph Morgan, invented a machine, which allowed continuous production of candles by the use of a cylinder, which had a movable piston that ejected candles as they solidified. Today, they are no longer a major source of light for people, but candles continue to be very popular and useful. Candles mean celebration, romance, ceremony, and can be an object of décor, while casting the same warm and enjoyable well-known glow.


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Dominic is the author of this article. This article may be reproduced on websites subject to credit being given to the author, and a link to his website. If you would like more information go to http://www.candlesources.com.

How To Buy Double Glazing in the UK

Double-glazing reduces heat loss through your windows. You can save money on your heating bills. *However, it will be a long time before you save enough money equal to the cost of the windows*. If you can't afford to replace *all* your windows, choose the rooms that cost you the most money to heat.

Double-glazed windows come in a variety of sizes and styles. Check for any planning restrictions on your house due to age and location. Sometimes planning permission may be required, in the case in listed buildings and conservation areas. Also if you are converting a flat window into a bay window. Check this with the local authority.

Don't rely on the Yellow Pages or advertisements to choose a supplier. Anyone can place an advert, join a trade body, or display badges they're not entitled to.

Always use a reputable company that you have had independently checked out. Don't rely on the fact that you have heard of them as even some of the biggest advertisers may have had several incarnations. It's very easy in Britain to shut down one company and open up again under a similar name.

A 10% deposit is normal. A larger one is appropriate only if the work is 'bespoke' - such as unique timber window designs. Try to pay in stages according as the work in completed, and withhold the final payment until the work is completed to your satisfaction. Do not go for the cheapest quotation. There's a price point below which you'll be buying rubbish. Do not try to beat the price down too much. Less professional suppliers will agree to it, but sell you short later. Get the best you can afford. Ask your supplier how long the delivery will be. Have this stipulated on your contract. Additionally ask for an estimate of how long the work will take to finish once they are on-site.

Always pay deposits by credit card, as this will afford you some level of protection under the Consumer Credit Act. If the company will accept credit cards for the whole job then that is even better. You have 30 days to make a claim with your credit-card company. You have to show how you were given bad goods or workmanship i.e. they contracted to give you X and gave you Y instead.

Check, double check and get independent advice on the contract before you sign, as some contracts are considerably more onerous than others.

The best way to avoid salesmen's traps is to be sure of what you want before the salesman arrives in order to present him with your requirements and use that as your bargaining chip. Getting a specific quote against a specific set of requirements is the only way you can be certain of getting like for like quotations and getting the best prices to compare at your leisure. Ask if your chosen double glazing installer is a member of the Glass and Glazing Federation, check for FENSA accreditation and make sure that all products carry the safety standard kite mark.

Company checks to carry out:

How long have they been in business?

Check with Companies House.

What guarantees do they offer?

Are they insurance backed, lifetime or limited, are they transferable?

Membership of independent or paid for trading organisations.

These could include:

G.G.F - Glass and glazing federation
B.P.F - British plastics federation.
F.M.B - Federation of master builders
Conservatory council
Conservatory association
Consumer protection association
Guild of master craftsman
E.B.C - European builders confederation

Quality standards:
BS5750
B.B.A certification
Public liability insurance.

Will the fitters and the company be covered if something should go wrong? You should look for at least 2 million pounds cover and check the certification covers the people who are actually doing the work.

Product standards to check out:

B.S.I - British standards (kitemarks), for locking, security, safety, product, glass etc.
B.B.A - British board of Agrement
FENSA - Document L of the building regulations.

You should make up a comparison checklist and confirm all claims independently of any sales claim or literature. The *good* contractors get work by word-of-mouth referrals from previous clients. They've plenty of work to keep them going, and so are worth waiting a few months for.

The bad ones are doing too many jobs at once, moving workers from site to site, don't supervise them properly, and thus do poor work.

Ask yourself:
Have I been given:
1. Full and honest information.
2. Samples
3. Installations locally to look at
4. Recommendations.
5. The small print
6. Acceptable levels of deposits and payment terms
7. Full drawings and specification (if you don't have them prepared first).
8. Time to think!


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T. O' Donnell (http://www.tigertom.com/double-glazing-uk/index.shtml) offers double glazing quotes, advice, and an ebook, in London, UK.
COPYRIGHT: You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. You must publish the article AS IS. Do not modify, alter or edit it.
You are allowed to format the layout of the article for proper display in your website or ezine, so long as the text, hyperlinks and paragraph breaks are not changed or deleted. If presented in a HTML document, any hyperlinks present must be active, clickable, and go direct to the websites they represent i.e. no re-directs.
Notifying the author is not required, but doing so is appreciated, at http://www.tigertom.com/contact.htm.

How to Care for Laminate Flooring

It's hard to damage and easy to care for laminate floors. Here are some tips on how to properly maintain them:

Carefully read the warranty and care instructions provided for your flooring. Follow them as much as you can and refer to them if a problem develops.

Ask for post-installation care instructions.You may not be able to mop the floor for 48 hours or you may be given other care instructions,depending on the flooring brand.

Don't wet-mop laminate floors, because puddles could seep behind basebords and under your floor, damaging them.Only vacuum and then damp-mop them.

Don't ever apply wax or acrylic floor finishes.

Use only the stain-removal products recommended by the flooring manufacturer.Typical suggestions in product literature are: acetone, for cigarette burns and nail-polish spills, and mineral spirits for grease and tar.

Buy doormats for doorways that lead to the garage or outdoors.These doormats will trap grit that can gradually cause light scratching on the laminate floor's surface.

Put easy-glide protective buttons on the feet of the furniture.

Use dollies when moving a large piece of furniture or a heavy appliance across a laminate floor or else you could leave a scratch by getting tiny peebles caught under a furniture foot or a wheel.

Take common-sense precautions to protect your floor when working with sharp or heavy objects.For example, put down a thick tarp or a carpet scrap to protect the laminate floor when installing a ceiling fan and using a drill; you can damage the floor by accidentally dropping it.


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Laminate flooring enthusiasts unite! Installation, maintenance, selection, e.g., Harmonics, Pergo, Shaw, Mannington - you name it, we are talking about it.
Join us at http://laminateflooring.oncloud8.com.
timlaminate@yahoo.com

Easy Ways To Save Money Using Gas Tankless Water Heaters"

Tankless water heaters are one of the most effective tools in your home that you have in trying to fight the ever increasing gas, electric, and heating costs that is occurring across the United States.

Up until now, most Americans have had the standard tank hot water heater in their homes to heat up their hot water for baths, showers and cooking and cleaning in the kitchen.

This is fine for people who are not overly concerned with the ongoing cost of their utilities bills, and for those who are not really worried about the kind of water heater they have installed.

These kinds of people generally either accept the expensive heating bills that they receive in the mail, or they reduce the amount of hot water and heat that they use and try to conserve dollars that way.

Unfortunately, the concept of high bills is now becoming a reality for many people and so they are now starting to examine their bills and their water heaters.

People are now considering both gas and electric tankless water heater options in an effort to save money. We will examine gas tankless water heaters in this article.

Gas tankless water heaters use copper tube heat exchangers affect a transfer between the burning fuel - natural gas or LPG - and the water. Undertaking a transfer using gas is both energy and cost efficient and in fact, the cost of heating water with gas is often much lower for people who use gas tankless water heaters as opposed to the more traditional tank units.

You will only need to look at a comparison of your bills after using the gas tankless water heater for a few months and you will see how cost efficient it truly is.

Gas tankless water heaters can be used in the home in many different ways according to your specific needs. Some gas tankless water heaters are designed to create hot water for a single point in the home while other gas tankless water heaters can be used for a washer and dryer, a kitchen sink, or a solitary shower.

While other gas tankless water heaters are designed to create a constant flow of hot water to two or three showers simultaneously.

Many of the more popular brands of gas tankless water heaters come with extras that make the units easier to use or maintain for people who don't want to be bothered with ongoing tankless water heater maintenance such as remote temperature control and an easy to use wall-mounting bracket, safety features such as oxygen depletion sensing systems and overheating sensors.

All of these features make tankless water heaters a breeze to run.


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John Williams works tech support for New York based Internet Publishing company, DigiLectual Inc. He's keenly interested in energy efficiency, and did a lot of research before installing tankless water heaters in his own home.