Top 5 Things to Create From Your Old Christmas Tree

Christmas is now over and your lovely Christmas tree will no longer serve its purpose. Most likely, your next big step is to get rid of it. However, instead of just trimming it and tossing it somewhere, why not use it for other purposes? You can still make good use of your old Christmas tree by turning it into useful things. Here are some of them.

●     Logs

One of the simple things that you can make out of a Christmas tree are logs. They will be very useful during winter as you can place and burn them in your fireplace. However, avoid burning the branches of your Christmas tree to eliminate sparks.

Image : youtube.com

●     Habitat for Animals

Apart from making logs, there are many other things that you can do with your old Christmas tree. For one, you can make it as a habitat for animals. You just have to move it outside your house so it can serve as a shelter for birds. You can also place it near a bird feeder. Since birds are attracted to trees, they are likely to go into that direction so you would not only provide birds with shelter but you could also help feed them. You can also make it as a habitat for fishes by letting the tree sink in a pond. Doing this can also help prevent soil erosions.

●     Candle Holders

Being creative and resourceful doesn't end in decorating Christmas trees. After Christmas, you can still do some creative crafts using old materials, which in this case is your Christmas tree. Surprisingly, you can cut the tree into chunks and turn it into candleholders. As long as you have the complete tools, you can make this DIY project successfully even you're not that handy.

●     Scented Potpourris

Another creative way to recycle your Christmas tree is to make scented potpourris using its barks and branches. To add fragrance, you just have to use essential oils. You can also mix them with dried flowers, spice and herbs and fixatives. Place these scented potpourris on jars so they can serve as ornaments.

●     Trellis

By being resourceful and practical, you can save money from buying a new trellis for your garden. From leaves to branches, your Christmas tree can be used to build a new trellis. You'll just need some tools including pocketknife, hammer, ring shank nails, measuring tape, and wood glue.

If you are a resourceful person, you’ll have a lot of ideas to recycle your old Christmas tree. Share what you have in mind by commenting below!

Written by Robert Thompson, owner of LC Lawncare & Landscaping, where they are one of the best companies for tree service in Columbia, MO.

How to Get Rid of Icy Sidewalks

It is that time of the year again! Boulder averages 88 inches of snow each and every year! Residents of the city know that they must prepare well ahead of time in order to save themselves from the snow and the ice that it leaves behind. Icy sidewalks are always of concern in Boulder. Slips and falls on ice can cause serious injury, even death. How can you get rid of icy sidewalks and prevent those injuries from happening? With a bit of time and a few of the following helpers, you have everything that is needed to quickly remove ice from the sidewalks.

Salt

No, don’t go into the kitchen and grab the Morton salt and pour it on the ground. Instead, head to the home improvement store and purchase snow salt. This special salt works to melt snow and ice quickly. Alternatives to the salt, if you are unable to get out to purchase it, include ashes, sand, and cat litter.

Shovel

Obviously the easiest way to get rid of snow and prevent icy sidewalks is with a shovel, but do not start this task unless you’re ready for a challenge. Shoveling snow takes time and persistence. Plus, you need to have the salt on hand (or your chosen solution) to melt the ice once the snow is gone. It is also a good idea to have an ice chipper on hand, or at a minimum use the shovel to break the ice.

Call the Pros

The safest, smartest ways to get ice off of a sidewalk is to hand the job over to a professional company. Professionals are able to quickly and easily remove the ice and snow from the sidewalks and you can stay inside where it is nice and warm and there is no harm of you falling and injuring yourself.  Professionals have the right tools and right equipment. They are well prepared for the job and more than willing to get you out of an icy situation! It is easy to find a company offering affordable snow removal in Boulder, co, so why not let someone else take care of the problem it is what they are paid to do, after all.  

Ice Removal Tips

Once you’ve successfully removed the snow and ice from the sidewalk, it is important that a second layer of salt (or snow melt) be placed on the sidewalk to prevent ice from building again. If you hire a professional for ice removal, they’ll take care of this secondary step for you.

Before you step onto the sidewalk, make sure that it is safe. Ice is so slippery and it is very easy to fall on. A slip onto the hard ice could result in some serious body soreness, or worse, severe injuries. Make sure that you are able to stand on the ice and that there is something nearby for you to hold onto or grab in the event that you start to slip.

Before you know it all of that snow and ice will be long gone. Until then, use these tips to keep you ice-free!

7 Home Painting Ideas to Try Right Now

Applying a fresh coat of paint to the interior of your home is one of the absolute best ways to spruce up your living space. Paint instantly revives and refreshes a particular space, allowing you to update an older home or change your style in an instant. Take a look at these seven home painting ideas that you should try to enhance your home.

Bold Colors: The typical colors used inside of a home can become very boring quickly. To spruce things up a bit, opt for bold colors used around door entrances, windowsills, etc. The added colors enhance the home’s ambiance and prevent it from looking so dull and boring.

Black & White Blocks: The block pattern was widely popular in the 50s and the 60s. Nowadays when you see it the colors take you back to yesterday and those fond memories that you left behind. This is an awesome pattern for the kitchen!

Vertical Stipes: Vertical stripes are appealing because you’re able to get a couple of different hues of a favorite colors. Blues are very popular for vertical stripes, but many others are also available. Vertical stripes look great in most any room in the home.

Sponge painting: Sponge painting has been around for some time now, but it has only been in recent years that anyone was bold a daring enough to try it on the walls. Now it is a trend that seems to be enjoyed by most homeowners. It is a great DIY project that is tons of fun, so do not miss your chance at sponge painting fun!

Stenciling: No matter what color pant you choose, stenciling on that paint is an excellent way to personalize your home. There are tons of stenciling ideas and options available, so doesn’t matter what is interesting to you. 

Go Blue: Light blue is a color that adds accent and charm to any home and to any room in that home. There are many different hues of light blue that youkan chooses from, so make sure to consider all options before selecting the paint that is right for your home.

Swirls: You can also get creative and daring and add swirls to your home interior. Mix and match like colors for an irresistible look that you will love throughout the house. When you do not want to have an interior like the rest, this is the best option for you to consider.

No matter what painting idea sounds like your idea of a gorgeous home, make sure that you get the paint job done the right way and call in the help of interior house painters in Boulder. Interior house painters can provide you with even more tips and ideas for your paint colors, as well as start the job that you have in mind. Entrusting your painting needs to the professional ensures that you get the job that you really want, without any errors or mistakes along the way. 

How To Stop The Burglars From Striking Twice

Being a victim of burglary can be a very traumatic experience. Not only do householders lose items that are of value both financially and sentimentally, but it also leaves the majority of people feeling incredibly vulnerable and violated.

Unfortunately, statistics show if you have fallen victim to burglary once, it is more likely that you will be targeted again.

 

image:en.wikipedia.org

Figures recorded between January 2008 and December 2013 and recently released following a Freedom of Information request to all 43 forces in England and Wales, have shown that over 10% of burglaries in Essex during that time period were on houses that had been targeted previously. These are shocking figures, but it does make sense.

Thieves like to make things easy, so it makes sense for them to target somewhere they know. Once they are familiar with the layout of a home or the routine of the residents, they can carry out multiple burglaries without having to scope out the area again should the owner not change their security or routine.

While these statistics seem scary, there are things that you can do to prevent a would-be repeat offender striking your home twice.

Ensure you know what’s going on in your local area

While you may hear people talk about the “old days” where you could leave your front door unlocked, wide open even, it’s important to remember we are no longer living in the “old days” unfortunately. Burglary is a possibility, wherever you live. Even if you haven’t been targeted before, it’s worth checking the crime figures in your local area so that you can be prepared. A postcode crime checker will enable you to do this.

Secure your doors and windows

It sounds obvious, but make sure your doors and windows are locked, even if you are just popping out. Burglars like to be in and out as quickly and easily as possible, so an open window is like an invitation.

Fit a deadbolt lock to your external doors.  You don’t have to buy the most expensive one on the market, but it is worth investing in a good quality and of course robust lock.

Close internal doors so that burglars cannot see all the way through the house. This will not only help to hide valuables that might otherwise be seen from the window, but also hide whether anyone is home in another room.

Don’t draw the curtains during the day when you’re not in. This advertises to thieves that the house is free for burgling. And whatever you do, do not leave a spare door key hidden outside. Chances are they will find it and this just makes the job easier for them.

Downplay the temptation

Where possible keep expensive items that might tempt thieves out of sight, especially from the view of the street. Try not to make it obvious that you have valuable items worth stealing, both in the house and when you’re out. Walking around town flashing a brand new smartphone or expensive jewellery is going to make you an obvious target. You don’t need to downplay it so much it seems like you’re poverty stricken, just don’t make it glaringly apparent that you have things worth stealing.

Don’t advertise your brand new flat screen TV or other expensive electronic items by leaving the boxes by the front door. This just tells burglars that you’ve replaced the stuff they’ve taken, making your home an obvious repeat target.

Security

Obviously if you have already been the victim of a burglary, it would suggest that your security is probably lacking. Make sure you fix this by installing a good quality security system. Thieves can recognise fakes a mile away, so invest in a system that at the very least sets off a loud alarm.

Once you have your security system in place, make sure you keep up with regular maintenance checks. The worst thing you can do is spend money on a system that then does not do the job you bought it for because you’ve neglected to keep it in good working order.

If you’re looking for more advanced security options however, look to invest in a security system that does more than just make a noise. Advances in technology mean that security systems are available that feature motion and proximity sensors that will notify you if there is any slight movement in your home. Such systems can also stream live footage from your home straight to your smartphone, regardless of where you are in the world. Like any new technology, there are a myriad of options when it comes to the latest security systems. To give you an idea of what is available, we recommend checking out a guide such as this one.

Going away

If you are going away, do not let the world know by declaring it on social media. In the constantly connected world we live in, it’s incredibly easy to share all kinds of details about your life. This includes where you live, what your house looks like, what is inside it and when you will be away. By sharing this information, you have basically done the thieves’ homework for them. It doesn’t take much more research to then target your home.

You should be asking yourself do you really know everyone on your Facebook friends list? Are your status updates set to public? Can friends of friends see what you are posting? The same goes for Instagram, which is incredibly visual. Just a few posts of your home on Instagram and then one holiday snap could provide would-be thieves with all the research they need.

Thieves use social media to find information on potential targets, and if you’re advertising it freely it gives them a clear advantage.  So be careful what you post.

Another important thing to remember when you go away is that the house should look like it’s still occupied. Having all the lights out after dark makes it obvious no one is home.

Timers have been around for years, and with the introduction of fully automated systems that allow you to control all your electronic devices from your phone regardless of your location, it’s easy to set your lights and TV so that it appears you are in.

The best thing you can do when you go away is to arrange for someone to come and check the house to remove telltale signs that might attract thieves. Having someone remove piles of post or opening and closing curtains at the right time will make it seem like the house is occupied.

Obvious deterrents are the best

These points may sound obvious, but it is easy to make mistakes that can make you an easy target for multiple burglaries. Overall, the best defence against burglars is common sense. That, and perhaps a big dog!