“Did You Know…?

Spring is in the air and before you realize it the flower buds will begin to bloom, the air will have the aroma of fresh lilac and the sun will be beating down upon us creating energies that motivate up to begin new projects around the home.

How can I spice up the outside of my home?

As soon as I feel the warmth from the sun and I hear the birds sing from my deck I immediately feel a sense of creativity inside me just waiting to burst.  This is when I grab my tools, a bottle of water and head outside trying to figure out what I can do to spice up the outside appearance of my home.

Beautiful Flowers Brighten Up the Home and the People Living In It

The first thing I like to do is grab the flowerpots that I stored in the garage over the winter and clean them up using a little water from the hose in the backyard.  Once they are clean, I begin by going to the store to purchase fresh soil.  I always make sure I purchase moisture control soil for my plants so the flowers do not dry out to quickly from the sun; it also helps the flowers bloom better. 

Next, I buy my favorite flower seeds, a few small plants (there is no need to spend a lot of money on big plants because if you care for it properly it will grow to be huge in size before you know it) and I purchase vegetable seeds for my garden.

Once I get everything I need I grab my garden tools and get down to the nitty-gritty.   I place the flowers by my doorsteps and on the deck where they are visible for others to see.  The bright flowers liven up the home and create a sense of happiness to home too.

Creating a Vegetable Garden

I always create a small vegetable garden each spring it is easy, affordable and you save a bundle in fruit and vegetable costs.  Here are some helpful tips to begin your garden:

• It is best to have your vegetable garden as close to the house as possible: this makes it easy for you to cut out and gather some vegetables or herbs for cooking
• Choose a sunny spot: most vegetables needs full sun
• Pick an area where the ground is level
• Most people will have soil, or can create beds that have topsoil of at least 1 foot deep.  It is easy to do and it will not take long.
• Use an area in your backyard that has plenty of space available

1. Value Your Abilities - You need to think highly in yourself and value your abilities.  You are a great person with tons of qualities and talents.  You can accomplish anything you put your mind too.

1. From Rags to Riches - My best sense of achievements comes when I create something from scratch.  Knowing that I started with nothing and created something of great value and purpose fills my soul with an amazing feeling of success and achievement.  You may not succeed the first time you try to build something or it may not come out exactly the way you wanted it to come out, building takes time, patience, and ability to focus on one specific idea in mind. 

1. Begin by creating a journal - Look around the room and what is the first thing you always wanted to change, but you were afraid you could not do it or you just did not know how too.  Ask yourself, “What have I always wanted to build?”  Look around, close your eyes and think about what you would love build or what is your true passion.  Maybe you have been waiting for someone to fix something around the house, maybe you have been yearning to build that special something, or maybe you postponed doing something because you were waiting for someone else to do it.  Write your goals and list things you want to do inside and outside your home.  Write them down and on the bottom of the page write down how building those certain things will build your self-confidence.  What does self-confidence mean to you?

1.  Write down 10 positive things about yourself - Go through your journal and look at all the positive things about yourself. Concentrate on your strengths. This will help you increase your self-confidence and it will give you the motivation to do it. Give yourself credit for everything positive you have written about yourself. Remember, you are somebody special.

1. Do not dwell on your weaknesses - Do not say I cannot do it because you can.  Building, creating things is not hard if you believe in yourself.  The best way to build your confidence is consciously focusing on gratitude. Set aside time each day to list everything you have to be grateful for in life. Recall your past successes, unique skills, loving relationships, and positive momentum. You will be amazed how much you have going for you and you will become motivated to take that next step towards building your dreams.

1. The mind matters - The development of strength in the inner body begins in the mind. The inner body is our mind, soul and spirit. How we think and program our minds to work, helps us build mental, physical and spiritual strength. Our strength comes from how we feel about ourselves and what we believe we are capable of doing. The higher our self-esteem, the stronger we feel the more we can do around the home. If you have the strength and motivation, you can make any dream a reality.

1. You cannot rely on others - You need to learn to rely on yourself. Do not ask others to build things for you.  Have confidence and build it yourself.  Have the attitude, “I can build anything just as good as you.” It is all in the attitude baby!

1. Believing in yourself is the Key - You have to believe in yourself, develop a sense of pride in yourself and have pride in all the things you do. It does not matter what others think about you and what you are doing, what matters is how you think about yourself.

1. Reward yourself - Reward yourself each time you complete a craft or a project. 
   Do something that you enjoy…go out, treat yourself to a treat or take it easy for the day.

1. Have tremendous amounts of pride in yourself - Remember, you are the best you are number one!

Here are some ideas of things you can design, create and build in your home:

• Dresses
• Metal purse frames
• Make a box cushion dog bed
• Design and build a skateboard
• Print yardage of fabric and then make something with it
• Make Queen or King size quilt
• Make smocks
• Hang up rods and design curtain and create the curtains
• Hang new frames up and design an attractive pattern on the walls
• Make a fabric check book cover 
• Make the kimono robe
• Make a sock monkey
• Hang up new shelving and begin to reorganize
• Design and create a camera case
• Build a table
• Build a Clock
• Build a doll house for the kids
• Create shelving in the closets
• Design and make clothes
• Design a traveling sewing kit
• Renovate furniture with new fabric
• Learn to make shoes
• Learn to rewire a lamp
• Learn to make t-shirts
• Stain furniture
• Renovate furniture and make it look brand new

These are just a few ideas from the top of my head and from things; I have done in my own home.  Building and creating brings self-confidence and with self-confidence, anything is possible.

Check out our_____________ (list products) and see how you can start building your dreams into a reality.

Did You Know…?                                                                                                          Part 1 of 2

Everyone has a dream. There is passion that lies within our souls just waiting to flourish. We all have special talents. We all have uniqueness and creativity about ourselves. If you believe in yourself and dig deep, enough into your soul you will find your true passions and if you seek hard enough you will find the courage to pursue them and the ability to achieve them. The more self-confidence you have, the more likely it is you will succeed.

Today, I want to discuss with you strategies and techniques that I used to build up my inner strength and self-confidence. I had certain goals in mind – I wanted to move forward in life. I wanted to go after my passions, find my true talent and figure out how I can use my abilities to gain a rewarding sense of achievement. For me this sense of achievement comes when I create and build things to satisfy my desires and the needs of my loved ones.

Have you ever fixed or helped fix the outside of your home and afterwards you felt a huge sense of accomplishment roaming through your body. When you help someone build or create something does it make you feel really good about yourself? Do you find yourself waking up each morning and going into certain rooms and saying, “Boy this needs to fixed, this needs to be stained, the fabric on this furniture needs to be replaced.” Well, why can’t you do it? My husband is definely not “Bob the Builder,” he’s more like “Tim the Tool Man.” The guy from the sitcom in the 90’s that caused everthing he tried to fix to back fire, so I used to take charge and fix the things in my home myself and I definitely felt boost of high self esteem when I completed the projects I head out to accomplish. Do you have things on your home you want to fix or things in your head you always wanted to create from scratch?

Through dedication, determination and hard work I have come to learn that I could achieve anything I put my mind too. You can accomplish your goals and dreams by having a positive outlook and if you we believe in yourself.

The Purpose of Self-Confidence
The purpose of self-confidence is to develop an inner strength that will empower you to go after your dreams and accomplish your goals. Maybe you always want to build specific something (a clock, renovating your kitchen cabinets, putting up rods for your new curtains or heading a craft club at your home) whatever goal you have in mind you can achieve it. Even if you do not have experience in building or fixing things, you still can do it. All you need is motivation to want to achieve it and the inner strength to believe you can do it.

Don’t those television shows make everything look like a piece of cake?  Do they inspire you to install your own hardwood floors or Venetian plaster your bathroom?  That’s good!  These shows are doing their jobs if they inspire you, but you need to know your limitations. Let’s talk about the ways some smart planning and good thinking will help you keep your next project under control.

Been there…done that!

There is a really good chance that whatever project you’re trying to accomplish on your own, someone you know has already done it in their own home.  Before you try a project you’re unsure about, ask around at work, church or wherever you have people you know and trust.  If you want to install new kitchen cabinets, and Jim and Susie Fisher said it was a complete disaster to do it alone, maybe you’ll want to re-think it.  But honestly, cabinets aren’t too bad as a DIY task with a little help.  But you see if you know someone who did it before you, then you can talk about what they would have done differently to make the project easier.  It’s a hindsight thing. If they were really good friends, perhaps they’d lend you a hand.

The web.

The Internet has everything about everything listed practically everywhere!  If you want to learn how to re-grout your shower, the Internet can help.  Look through forums where people have shared their experiences and collect tips from experts.  Sometimes I think the Internet is a more reliable source than some of my friends.  It’s unbiased.  I mean…how many of you have friends that may not want to admit they couldn’t handle a task?  I can think of a few myself.

Stuck in the middle.

Let’s say that you are a compulsive and risky Do it Yourselfer.  You wanted to replace the dining room floor on your own.  Now you’ve got a torn up floor and boxes of expensive hardwood you don’t quite understand how to cut around heating vent.  Where do you go?  Well, you can go back to the Internet and research your topic for assistance, you may have some luck.  You can also give Jim and Susie a call to see if they’re interested to help you out.  There is strength in numbers, so don’t assume the first thing you need to do is give up and call the professionals.  You can do it!

That’s why it is so important to plan and research projects before you do them.  They can be really difficult once you get started and you want to be prepared for any set backs.  Talk to your friends, you family and the people who work at the hardware store to get as much information as possible.  Don’t be afraid when the going gets rough to call out for help.  It’s much better than sitting around with your mess.  Happy Tasking!

Now that you’ve got a tool collection to call your own, you’re probably wondering how you take care of them.  Are you wondering if you need to oil your power tools?  How do you wash them?  I’m going to tell you how to take care of your tools so you can get the most out of them!

Lubricating your tools.

Tools these days don’t usually require lubrication.  Most power tools have sealed bearings or are considered self-lubricating.  Tools that do require lube are ones like air impact wrenches.  So if you happen to own one, read the manual to learn where the oil points are. 

Cleaning your tools.

Tools will get dirty; there is no way around it.  You may get dust or other debris on your tools at some point in your life, but you must resist the urge to wash them.  Tools DO NOT go in the dishwasher.  Water is the enemy of a trusty tool.  Rinsing off your tools can lead to rust.  However, there are times that water will come in contact with your tools.  Installing faucets and shower heads are two great examples of when water can be an issue.  Just remember, a little water can lead to a big mess.  If your tools get wet, dry them as soon as you can, and always before putting them away.

Storage of your tools.

They don’t call it a tool box for nothing!  This is the place your tools need to go.  With a place for everything, and everything in its place, your tools will thank you.  Many people hastily like to finish projects and toss their tools into a junk drawer, I have one and I bet you do too!  When you dump tools on top of each other, it can lead to problems.  Tools improperly stored can get scratched up, mixed up and generally messed up.  Tool boxes provide protection as well as convenience.  It’s a must have investment for your tool collection.  If you don’t have a place for your tools, consider looking at the soft tool bag from our site!  We have so many tools in our home, that it takes a six foot tall tool chest and two smaller boxes in our garage to organize all of our tools.  However, I don’t like walking out to the unattached garage in the dead of winter every time I want to hang a picture.  What’s my solution?  I have a

tool belt that I keep fully loaded in my bedroom closet.  It attaches to my waist with a plastic buckle, so I just clip it onto the bar that I hang clothes from.  It fits right in with my fashionable belts!  Having a tool belt in the house that has a multipurpose screwdriver, hammer, nails, tape measure, pliers, wrench and flashlight is worth its weight in gold!  Those are the basic staples I use whenever I tackle a project.  I highly recommend having something similar in your home. 

tool belt that I keep fully loaded in my bedroom closet.  It attaches to my waist with a plastic buckle, so I just clip it onto the bar that I hang clothes from.  It fits right in with my fashionable belts!  Having a tool belt in the house that has a multipurpose screwdriver, hammer, nails, tape measure, pliers, wrench and flashlight is worth its weight in gold!  Those are the basic staples I use whenever I tackle a project.  I highly recommend having something similar in your home. 

Treat your tools right and they’ll last for years!  Happy tasking!

When you begin to start a new home project, how often do you think it through before you start to gather your materials?  It’s so easy to want to hurry up with your projects, because let’s face it: no one likes to have their house torn apart, even if it is for the sake of making it look better!  I want to talk to you about the importance of beforehand planning of projects before you even step foot in the hardware store for supplies.

Let’s just say you want to paint your dining room.  Sounds easy enough!  Painting is a great way to add your charm to areas of the house, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s an easy task.  The first thing you’d want to do is create your list.  You’ll need paint, masking tape, rollers, trays, tarps and possibly a few more odds and ends.  Draw a picture of your room on a piece of paper.  If you want to move furniture around, draw it out first; do you like the new look?  Making lists and diagrams before you start these projects mean you most likely won’t be surprised with the outcome.  A list will keep you from forgetting easy to forget items at the store when it comes time to buy.  It’s so easy to just walk in to buy your supplies, and forget the fact you will need a small brush to help where the roller can’t cover.  What about floor covering? Do your walls need some plaster or sanding? Would you have remembered your paint tarp?  (BTW, I find plastic tarps on the floor in my home to be a bit dangerous.  It’s so easy to slip.  I often check the clearance sections of my home stores for cheap sheets.  I use those and minimize my risk of slipping, but remember; paint can soak through- so layer!)

I find that making lists help me with budgeting my projects.  A big reason many of us do jobs ourselves is to save money.  I can often make a list of my supplies and then visit the website for a big box home store.  This way, I know what I’ll be spending before I get there.  It’s such a time saver!

Remember; don’t rush yourself when you’re doing projects at home.  If you hurry the job, your end result will show.  Take an hour out of your day to pre-plan and research even the simplest projects.  Talk it over with your spouse if they’ll be helping you.  Don’t go to the paint store and buy something you’re uncomfortable with because you want to get the ball rolling.  Bring samples home and sleep on it!  So many DIYers will run into bumps in the road when working on projects in their homes, but you can minimize the hassle if you just take time to think a little bit ahead of time.  Happy tasking!

I can’t tell you how many things I’ve done in my home, only to stand back and look at it and think “wow this looked A LOT better in that magazine.”  The truth is, it’s hard for a rookie DIYer to get a job perfect on the first try.  Honestly, with as much photo editing software circulating, you can’t believe everything you see in those home and garden magazines. As for those television shows that transform rooms within a few days….that’s not always perfect either.  Behind the scenes of those shows, you can tell that things were rushed at the last minute.  Decadent throw pillows were stapled and there were paint drips galore!  If you want to make it perfect, just take your time.  Doing some preliminary research on your project and doing the best you can is all you need to succeed.

Don’t expect to overhaul a room in your house in a weekend.  It’s no fun having your place a mess while you take on tasks, but good things come in due time.  Currently I’m re-doing my hallway bath, and it’s been a total mess.  There were plenty of bumps along the way.  Speaking of bumps, let’s talk about my walls.  They were in such rough shape; I decided to pour a little sand into my paint to give it texture.  You’d be surprised how great a little texture makes a sad wall look.  The spread of the sand was a little uneven, but I think it gave the walls a touch of character.  Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect!  If you like how it looks, you can consider that to be perfect!

Now, when you’re hanging pictures, or other things that require leveling, yes that does need to be “perfect.”  Otherwise you’ll have crooked items hanging from your walls.  There’s no skill to driving a nail into a wall.  Once you hang your picture, just eyeball it or use a level to make sure you’re on target.  Measurements are one of the most important things that you need to make sure are accurate when you take on projects. 

Remember, if you’re a perfectionist like I am, these projects can get really frustrating.  You should remember that your job will only look as good as the tools you use, so do your research!  No matter what, be proud of how your project turned out in the end.  You deserve to be satisfied with your work.

The worst accidents can be those that happen in the home.  There are so many things we have around our houses that can do harm.  So when it comes time for you to tackle a DIY project, safety should always be your number one concern.  This isn’t just the safety of yourself, but those around you.  You’ll be surprised just how dangerous the simplest jobs can be to the uninformed Do It Yourselfer.

Whenever you are improving your home, you need to make sure you have an up to date first aid kit near by.  It’s a good idea to have one on every floor of your home and in your garage.  Instead of wondering what you should have in a first aid kit, just go to your local drug store and buy one already made up for you.  You need to know that it is so important to have the proper medical supplies in your home if you should get hurt.  Just get a basic first aid kit.  You don’t need to have a huge one with big butterfly closures, but it never hurts to be prepared!

Eye protection is something we often don’t think about.  We don’t use eye protection enough.  I’m not talking about just when we’re using a miter saw to cut our new trim to a perfect edge.  I’m talking about even when we drag a broom across our popcorn textured ceilings to knock off the dust.  It only takes one little piece of dust or debris to wreck your day!  I know, I know….those goggles make you look less than flattering and you scare your toddler when you put them on.  Have you seen Ladiestoolsonline.com’s new pink protective eye wear?  It’s like wearing stylish fashion glasses but offers great protection! It’s definitely like seeing your perfect project completed through rose colored glasses!

Gloves are another safety precaution we often disregard.  Gloves not only keep our hands safe from scratches and splinters, they can help with chemicals.  I actually keep a box of disposable medical gloves in my kitchen.  They are extremely cheap and are very handy.  I use them each time I paint and stain wood.  I also put them on every time I clean my house or scoop the litter box.  Those chemicals that we use to scrub our toilets and disinfect our counters are very toxic.  Plus my hands never smell or feel grimy afterwards.  Latex gloves are great to protect your hands from paint and other chemicals, but what about gloves for everything else?  You can get mechanic’s gloves to help keep your hands safe when you’re working on bigger projects.  For example, use them if you’re going to nail wood together.  You’ll be less likely to get a splinter.  Use them whenever you need to get a good grip on something, like moving furniture around before painting.  You’ll find a ton of different ways these gloves will help you in your home.  Always use garden gloves when you’re working the in the yard.  Dirt easily gets under your fingernails and can be a breeding ground for germs.  Speaking of germs, remember how I keep a box of latex disposable gloves in the kitchen?  I use them every time I handle raw meat and chicken!  Try using them when you’re mincing garlic and onion, you don’t have to stink for days anymore!

It’s so important that you practice safety in the home when doing home improvement projects.  All it takes is one mistake to hurt yourself.  A true DIY Diva is prepared for everything!  Happy home improvements!

What keeps women from becoming DIY Divas?  Many ladies of the home handle everything from sack lunches to laundry; why not install a new ceiling fan this weekend?  Many of us like to let the men enjoy their tool time, but why shouldn’t we have some projects to do too?  Surely if your home is like mine ladies, there are plenty of tasks on the “Honey Do list” to go around!

Yet we all know running the home is a full-time job in itself, and many of us do have other jobs.  By the end of soccer practice and casserole creations, we find ourselves drained.  We’d rather spend our 3 day weekend in front of the television or soaking up the sun.  Time and energy will probably remain the biggest reasons why women turn down the DIY tasks.  We need to channel that negative energy and put it to some good use!  Don’t you know that working on your home will ease stress?

Sure, think about it ladies!  If you’re stressed to the max, head to the garage.  Start sanding away at the old kitchen table you’ve been meaning to refinish!  You’ll feel better and be half way done completing the table! 

Do the kids keep you from finishing all those DIY jobs you’ve been planning since they were born?  Life happens, but there’s no excuse once your kids can entertain themselves, and think of it as an extra set of hands if you need them.  DIY jobs don’t mean do it yourself….all alone.  Grab your daughter and teach her the importance of staining that kitchen table with smooth, even strokes.  You’ll enjoy the bonding time and the finished product will have a nice back story.  You’re making memories!

Another awesome way I use my DIY weekends to my advantage is dinner.  When I’ve got wood putty underneath my fingers and my hands ache from sanding, I know I can always get my favorite Chinese takeout, which takes me off the hook for cooking! 

You’ll realize that many of the jobs you’ve been putting off on because of the whole lazy factor aren’t as time consuming as you thought.  If you check the night before a project to make sure you’ve got all your materials, you can wake up the next morning without the inconvenience of running to the store. If you’re an early riser on your day off, you’ll be done by dinner.  Of course, not all projects are simple one day jobs.  But you’ll be surprised what you can do in one day.  I’ve installed a few major appliances, hung a few pieces of dry wall and did some spackle work, changed out faucets, replaced light fixtures, painted entire rooms and ripped up old carpet and replaced it with vinyl tile (by the way, vinyl sticky tile is my secret weapon to any old floor that needs a face lift for under a $1 a square).

 We don’t want to do these jobs because it just seems so much easier to not do them.  But, as with everything in life, if you want it done…you’ve got to Do It Yourself!