With winter comes many changes in our schedules not the least of which is that I’m in my sweat pants earlier and longer than at any other time during the year.  OK, probably too much information.  I do have three items that I cycle through every 6 months starting with late fall / early winter:

• Replace furnace filter:  My furnace is outfitted with the large capacity 25” X 16” x 4” filter which provides a longer life and a little more latitude when it comes to replacing.

• Change the Smoke Alarm Batteries:  I am profoundly affected any time a news story is aired where the firemen report non-working smoke alarms as a contributing cause to any fire injury or death.  Routine maintenance of your smoke alarms is simple, quick and fairly painless.  This is what I do every six months:
  • Change the batteries
  • Vacuum the entire smoke alarm to remove dust that may be covering the air inlets.  This is an often overlooked step in smoke the maintenance of any air based detector system.  Air inlets that are covered with dust will degrade the performance of your monitors.  Take the few minutes involved to clean these up.

• Inspect Your CO Monitor:  If you have an integrated smoke and carbon monoxide detector than performing the above maintenance will have you covered.  If however you are using a separate carbon monoxide detector please make sure to do the following:
  • Install the recommended number of units at the recommended locations for the size and style of your home.
  • Replace the batteries
  • Vacuum the air inlets

Enjoy all the added opportunities for family time coming from the extended amount of time you’re inside together.  Be safe at the same time by performing these simple steps insuring your furnace and monitors are in good working order.

Follow us every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to read our latest thoughts on Curb Appeal ideas, All Things Women, and DIY Projects that are right for you www.coachhouseaccents.com/blog/.

]]> http://www.coachhouseaccents.com/2013/02/08/wintertime-safety/feed/ 0 http://www.coachhouseaccents.com/2013/02/06/value-of-outdoor-play-2/ http://www.coachhouseaccents.com/2013/02/06/value-of-outdoor-play-2/#comments Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:13:36 +0000 coachhouse http://www.coachhouseaccents.com/?p=4381 Continue reading →]]> Many of our families started in January with a new goal of getting in shape and where we could we engaged in walking, jogging or another activity outside. My wife Dana issued a challenge to our family then as part of an ongoing effort with many of the moms in our subdivision.

The Challenge was to put down the remotes, video game controllers, laptops, ipads and cell phones and get the entire family outside and active. Dana wanted me to pass on this article from eHow.com she came across that talks about ALL the benefits of getting outside.

Many of us spend time outside completing projects and accomplishing a task. The favorite woman in my life invited our family to get back to perhaps the way it was when we grew up as kids….playing outside gave our lives both balance and benefit. Most of us didn’t have a choice back then to be outside all the time but some of the best memories I have as a kid took place outside.

How long has it been since you played outside?

 Value of Outdoor Play

Exploring the outdoors is an important part of healthy childhood development. Many of today’s parents fondly remember childhood days spent playing outdoors. When children make mud pies and observe ants, it may seem like just fun and games, but the truth is unstructured outdoor play is an important part of growing up healthy. The National Association for the Education of Young Children reports that outdoor play reduces stress and restlessness in children and improves their attentiveness.

1. Physical Health Benefits

Outdoor play is the perfect antidote to combat the epidemic of childhood obesity. Research shows that children who play outdoors are more fit and lean, according to the National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play. Children who spend time outside on a regular basis also have healthier immune systems. And playing outdoors is a good way to get adequate vitamin D.

2. Emotional Health Benefits

Playing outside enables children to relax, reduces tension and helps them solve problems. When children play outdoors, they learn to share and cooperate with one another and develop empathy. Kids who feel confident outdoors are likely to become competent, capable adults. Researchers have even found that outdoor play calms children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

3. Educational Benefits

The outdoors is a giant laboratory for learning that promotes creativity and problem solving. Researchers have found that children learn best when their body, mind and spirit are involved, and this occurs in outdoor play. Outside activities engage all five senses, which creates a powerful learning environment. The outdoors also exposes children to the opportunity to explore, experiment, form questions and create their own theories about how the world works.

4. Reduced Outdoor Play Time

Despite the many benefits of outdoor play, time spent outside has reduced drastically for many of today’s children. Kids today spend much more time in front of electronic media than children a generation ago. The lack of outdoor play is tied to the childhood obesity epidemic, and experts predict that the situation is so severe that this generation’s lifespan will be shorter.

Ideas for Increasing Outdoor Play Time

To get kids involved with the outdoors, encourage them to collect rocks, fly kites, climb trees, garden, camp, swim, go fishing, blow bubbles, rake leaves, watch birds and butterflies or play hopscotch

Read more: Link

Source: Davis-Bawden Julie. “Value of Outdoor Play.” eHow.com. http://www.ehow.com/about_6599728_value-outdoor-play.html#ixzz1ihE1LxwC

8 Quick hot design tips from the International Builders Show

Looking for quick, easy ideas to bring a home to life, add value, or prep for sale without spending a lot? Learn from the pros! Designers who presented at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando last week had a plethora low-cost, chic ideas to make to most of an interior space.

1. Transform closets: Your clients might consider turning a smaller, awkward closet into a built-in with cabinetry and shelving, or if there’s enough space, even a desk nook. Add dramatic dimension with disc lighting on each shelf. Buyers are looking to maximize every inch of a home with workspaces and storage solutions they’ll actually use. (Jerry Collin, Kay Green Design) [Here are some great before and after closet transformations from Real Simple.]

2. Create a ‘Garage Mahal’: Make the garage an attractive space with a dedicated recycling area, wall mounted shop-vacuum, and maybe a mini (or big) refrigerator for adult beverages. When in doubt, hang it up – provide hanging areas for bikes, tools, equipment, etc. Consider installing a workbench and storage. (Jillian Prichard Cooke, DES-SYN)

Example of a grey color scheme in a great room.

3. Avoid seasonal colors: Greys and stone colors are the new neutrals. Accent them with bursts of bright blues, oranges or reds. (Marc Thee, Marc-Michaels Interior Design)

4. Provide simple luxury: A foldout cabana, two outdoor lounge chairs, and a small table is an inexpensive way to give a backyard living space a sense of luxury. Stage it with candles, flowers or cool drinks (iced tea, lemonade, water, etc.) that you can serve during an open house. (Jillian Prichard Cooke, DES-SYN)

5. Set the mood: Do you have a listing that flushed in harsh light throughout the house? Try halogen narrow spot bulbs to create warm, pooled light for romantic shadows and definition. (Marc Thee, Marc-Michaels Interior Design)

6. Faux wood: Textured wall finishes add weight to a space, which can provide warmth and richness to great rooms. Wood mimicking wallpaper is a great way to get the look of wood paneling without big cost or long-term commitment. (Marc Thee, Marc-Michaels Interior Design)

7. Inexpensive creativity: Molding brings depth and clever detail to a space a low-cost: for example, use molding assembled as a square over a bed with two smaller pictures hung side-by-side within the square. (Jillian Prichard Cooke, DES-SYN)

8. Give them room for thought: Create computer-generated room layout boards to help buyers envision various uses for flex space, such as a family room, office, kids’ play area, library, etc. Consider matting the floor plan  ideas for a professional presentation. Works well for new- and existing-home sales alike. (Jerry Collin, Kay Green Design)

Source: Christoffer, Erica. Realtor Magazine. Feb 13, 2012.

http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2012/02/13/8-quick-hot-design-tips-from-the-international-builders-show/

Your house is for sale.  You see a car slowly drive by but not stop.  What went wrong?  This is a scenario that anyone who has ever tried to sell a house has experienced.  Chaya Kurtz wrote a wonderful piece in the January 10, 2013 FoxNews.com Leisure page titled “The Elements of Curb Appeal: A Checklist” where she provides an in-depth look at the items critical to getting that car to STOP.

These are the two things you need to know about curb appeal: You have seven to ten seconds to make a first impression; details make up the whole. Paying particular attention to details will ensure that the whole front view of your house makes a super first impression. This check list will provide you with a rubric of details to pay attention to when you are putting your house on the market.

 Landscaping:

1. Is the lawn trimmed and neat? Have brown patches in the grass been replaced or repaired?

2. Have all borders been edged?

3. Are trees and bushes neatly trimmed?

4. If your yard lacks trees and bushes, do you have plans to plant some?

5. Have you hidden unsightly features, like a central air conditioning unit, with green plants?

6. Have you removed all clutter and debris from your lawn and driveway?

 Concrete:

1. Is your driveway cracked or chipped? If so, repave it.

2. Is your walkway in good repair? If you have a walkway made of bricks or pavers, weed in between the bricks or pavers, and replace any broken or chipped bricks or pavers. Be sure to edge around the front walk. For paver replacement inspiration, Artistic Paver Mfg., a concrete contractor in Miami who specializes in pavers, has posted some awesome pictures on Hometalk.com .

 House facade:

1. Does your house have a neutral, classic color scheme?

2. Is your paint fresh-looking, with no moldy, bubbled, or peeling spots? If not, you need the services of a professional painter .

3. Your inside window treatments are visible from the outside. Do they match? Are the neat-looking and in good repair?

4. Have you installed shutters next to your windows? Adding matching, attractive shutters is a classic way to improve curb appeal.

 Front door:

1. Is your front door new-looking? If not, replace it with a new door.

2. Update front door hardware with shiny, new hardware. Make sure that the hardware is consistent with the style and period of your house.

3. Is your mail box attractive? If not, replace it with a modern and attractive mail box.

4. Are your house numbers prominent? New, bold, attractive house numbers are a detail that improve curb appeal.

5. How do your exterior light fixtures look? Up-to-date, fashionable exterior light fixtures are attractive to buyers.

Chaya Kurtz writes for Networx.com.

Read more:www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/01/10/elements-curb-appeal-check-list/#ixzz2IAQqv2No

Follow Chaya Kurtz by visiting www.networx.com where you’ll find many more home improvement ideas and advice.

Follow us every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at www.coachhouseaccents.com/blog/.

One of my personal favorite times of the year is approaching quickly. The Super Bowl is right around the corner. Great food, drinks, and games are always part of the party, but after trying to find ways to enhance my party this year, I stumbled upon these DIY projects from Taniver Lee at examiner.com. These 3 simple DIY projects are sure to spice up the atmosphere when watching the big game.

1.) Football Field Table

Sometimes the food is more exciting than the game, so you need a great place to put it. Who wants plastic Super Bowl tablecloths when you can have your very own field? Cut a piece of plywood to fit your table and attach green outdoor carpet to it. Add a few lines with white artist tape, stick on vinyl numbers and you have a field in your dining room or kitchen. If you’re in a hurry, you can skip the plywood, but the field will be a little bumpier. Click Here to view instructions

2.) Football Themed Bar

With all the salty snacks and hollering, you are all bound to be thirsty. Here’s where you can really do something fun – make a football themed bar! Get a nice piece of finished plywood and cut out a football shape using your jigsaw. Paint it with brown and white paint to create a football for the front of the bar. Use a black marker to add some dimension. Using the remaining plywood and 2 x 4s, create a box. Attach the football to the front, add some green outdoor carpet to the top and you are ready to wow your guests. Click Here to view instructions

3.) Football Throw Game

With the plywood left over from your coffee table chalkboard, you can make a football throw game. Cut a circle in the center of the board to toss the ball through. If your handwriting isn’t the best, you can use vinyl stickers for the lettering. Click here to view instructions

Taniver Lee. “Create the Ultimate Super Bowl party with three craft ideas.” Examiner.com. Feb 2. 2012.

Flu Season 2013 has been bad by any measure.  In our hometown of Grand Rapids hospitals have taken the dramatic step of screening patient visitors to see if they are feeling OK today.  If they are they’ll get a sticker to that effect so hospital staff will know.  If the visitor advises they are not feeling quite themselves they’ll be asked to go home until they feel better.

This year’s flu strain is different also in that it is lasting an unusually long time. My wife had a friend who was down for over three weeks before getting right with the world again.  So what to do if you’re stuck at home with the flu?  Our friends at the Huffington Post posted a great article titled “Got the Flu?  What To Do If You’re Stuck At Home” on its January 15, 2013 online Huff Post Healthy Living.  The following is an excerpt of the article you can read it in its entirety at www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/14/flu-what-to-do-home-sick_n_2458770.html?ir=Healthy+Living#slide=1972486.

We now know that the 2012/2013 flu season will go down on record as one of the most severe in the past decade. While we haven’t quite reached circa 2009 swine flu levels, the CDC is reporting that 47 states have “widespread” flu activity, an elevated rate of hospitalizations and even deaths. While the flu rates may already be subsiding, there are a still a large number of people who will be staying home over the coming weeks, trying to kick the virus, which can cause fever, chills, body aches and respiratory problems — among other complications.

Rest is a crucial part of the recovery process, but it can be kind of, well, boring. If you’re home sick and getting stir crazy, try one of these activities that will help you repair along the way.

Watch a Comedy

If you’re feeling well enough to watch a movie, make it a comedy. Research
shows that laughing may actually boost your immune system

Take A Steam

Turn your bathroom into a steam room by running a hot shower. If you’re too
lightheaded to stand, sit on a chair or the closed toilet and breathe in the
steam, which moistens your nasal passages and throat, and can help you relax.

Stir Up Some Homemade Hot Chocolate

If you make winter’s classic warm drink at home, you control what goes into the mix. That can keep sugar in check with unsweetened cocoa powder and cut back on fat by using skim milk — plus you can still reap the health benefits of chocolate, like a boost in heart health, a drop in blood pressure and lifted spirits.

And if you’re suffering from a flu or cold virus, the added hydration boost can only help your body’s capacity for fighting the infection.

Flickr photo by lisa_eglinton

Enjoy Homemade Soup

Sipping soup, especially broth, is bound to feel good, while providing you with the nutrients you need to fight your infection. It’s also an easy way to eat healthfully without feeling weighed down. And homemade beats canned soups or restaurant servings, which are often loaded with sodium.

Making your own hearty meal in a bowl cuts back on salt and also gives you the chance to load it up with healthy winter veggies. Try these tasty winter soup recipes from HuffPost Wellness Editor Dr. Patricia Fitzgerald.

Play A Board Game

Just as you want to keep your body active when you’re stuck indoors, exercising your gray matter is a great idea, too. Depending on the objective, board games can test your powers of memory, logic and problem solving.

So dust off that old Scrabble board, serve up the hot chocolate and challenge a friend or family member to a round. Don’t already own any games? Many can be easily downloaded as smartphone or tablet apps.

Again, you can read the article in its entirety at www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/14/flu-what-to-do-home-sick_n_2458770.html?ir=Healthy+Living#slide=1972486.

If you’re looking for just a terrific overall source for news and tips we suggest you bookmark the Huff Post at www.huffingtonpost.com and visit there regularly.

Follow us every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday by visiting www.coachhouseaccents.com/blog/.

Huffington Post. “Got the Flu? What To Do If You’re Stuck At Home.” January 15, 2013. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/14/flu-what-to-do-homesick_n_2458770.html?ir=Healthy+Living#slide=1972486

My wife who is not a fan of winter believes the best way to have winter curb appeal is to live in the Deep South. She makes an excellent point for those of us who live in the frozen Midwest.

Maintaining Curb Appeal Throughout the Fall and Winter Seasons

3 easy tips for maintaining your house’s curb appeal through the winter months.

As temperatures begin to drop and leaves begin to fall, the exterior beauty of your home doesn’t have to fade along with the summer season. In order to maintain curb appeal throughout the fall and winter months, put on your gardening gloves and heed these recommendations from the landscaping pros.

1. Prepare and protect your lawn, shrubbery, and plants for the change in seasons.

Now is the time of year to invest time in the maintenance of your existing grass, shrubbery, and plants, according to Fred Wheeler with FMW Consulting. In order to prepare your lawn for cooler days ahead, Wheeler recommends cutting grass to a height of 2″ and applying fall fertilizer no later than mid-October.

“In addition, lawns should be given a good soaking before your irrigation system is shut down for the season, spring flowering perennials should be cut back to within 2″ of the ground, and spring flowering shrubs should be pruned as required to maintain their desired size and shape,” says Wheeler. “For summer and fall flowering shrubs, wait until the middle of next April to prune.”

In order to protect perennials and other plants that may be sensitive to cold weather, Wheeler suggests a covering of 2″ or 3″ of organic mulch. When it comes to transplanting, Wheeler advises that evergreens be transplanted no later than mid-October and deciduous plants no later than mid-November.

According to Wheeler, these suggestions are general guidelines – best practices may vary depending on your geography and climate. If you are unsure how to prepare and protect your existing landscaping, be sure and consult a landscape professional to avoid issues come spring. “It’s always best to know, rather than just think, when making landscaping decisions,” he says.

Also, as an on-going grass maintenance measure throughout the fall season, don’t
forget to rake leaves on a regular basis. In addition to cluttering the lawn, unattended leaves can damage the grass underneath either by trapping moisture or preventing water from reaching the grass.

2. Add winter trees, shrubbery, and perennials to enhance curb appeal.

Although spring is typically the season in which homeowners tend to invest time, money, and effort in landscaping, you can incorporate a number of trees, shrubs, and plants into your landscape design in early fall to enhance the appearance of your home throughout the cooler seasons.

“To add visual appeal during the fall and winter months, we like to use ornamental grasses, sedums, evergreen vines and groundcovers, and boxwoods,” says Courtney McRickard, owner of Three Sixty Design in Denver, Colorado. “We also love to add color and visual interest by using beautiful, colorful pots with evergreens, which add an architectural quality to the landscape.”

Evergreens are ideal for adding interest due to their ability to withstand cold
temperatures and still retain their color and foliage year-round. The branches of evergreens also serve as beautiful snow catchers, adding contrast and dimension to your landscape once the snow begins to fall.

In addition to using brightly colored pots and evergreens to introduce color, you may also want to plant a few winter-fruit-bearing shrubs, such as hollies, American beautyberries, crab apples, viburnum, and snowberries. These shrubs not only expand your winter landscape palette beyond traditional greens and browns, but their fruit also serves as an important food source for birds throughout the winter.

According to Wheeler, winter pansies, fall mums, and fall asters are also a great way to
add color in the late fall and early winter. “I also like to incorporate plants that have unusual characteristics and texture, such as ornamental grasses, burning bush, ninebark, viburnum, and contorted filbert,” he says. “Just be sure and use caution when planting any evergreen plant material late in the year, as it may not do as well if it is planted after mid-October.”

3. Use lighting, statues, and other architectural elements to create interest.

When used in moderation, artistic landscaping elements have the ability to add both personality and curb appeal. Strategically placed items, such as lit stone pathways, arbors with strings of lights, birdfeeders, benches, statues, and other features can add visual interest and create contrast against an otherwise stark backdrop.

“Adding planters, incorporating artistic elements, and hardscaping projects are all great fall and winter outdoor activities,” says Wheeler. “In fact, we like to try and complete hardscape projects during the fall and winter months, when practical. That way, as soon as the weather breaks in the spring, we are ready for the next season and can concentrate on plantings.”

Link

Source: Minor, Taylor Lisa. “Maintaining Curb Appeal Throughout the Fall and Winter Seasons.” Buildipedia.com. Fri Oct 05 2012.

Since we began our blog there has been a whole slew of suggestion for different DIY projects. Some were stand-alone projects others tied to the season of the year and others were simply silly things to do with the family.  If memory serves, we even had a couple dealing the basic tools every household should have on hand.  Today we are turning to Andie Huber to gain insights into what things we should avoid when making home improvements. You can find Andie’s complete article which was posted on January 3, 2013 MSN.com Living section or by following this link http://glo.msn.com/living/never-make-these-home-decor-mistakes-again-8854.gallery?photoId=132154#!stackState=0__%2Fliving%2Fnever-make-these-home-decor-mistakes-again-8854.gallery.
Here are a few of Andie’s pointers:

Stroke of Genius

The Offense:

You spent the whole weekend painting the living room and the color (we’re looking at you, celery ice) is just not right.

The Resolution:

Light varies widely from day to night and room to room, so depending on your space, grays
may end up looking purple, whites might look blue, reds may turn pink. The secret to picking the right paint is simple: Purchase sample-size pots, do test swatches on various walls (to see how it looks from different angles) and only then purchase the needed gallons.

For Good Measure

The Offense:

That rug you found online ended up looking much smaller in the room than you’d thought. Or the curtains you had labored over, once hung, are just a few inches shy of the floor.

The Resolution:

We all use our various body parts to “measure” windows and rooms. And it works…ish. But pulling out a proper tape measure will save you from having to schedule costly pick-ups and exchanges that result in further delays. And a good rule of thumb for curtains: Err on the side of longer—you can always hem them with a hot iron and fusible hem tape.

Note Quirky Corners

The Offense:

After six months of waiting, it’s finally delivery day for your custom-fabric sofa. Cut to…discovering the piece will not fit around the corner, up the narrow staircase or through the front door.

The Resolution:

Sure, you could hire a crane to lift the sofa through the second-story window or find an upholsterer to cut and re-sew the piece once it’s inside the room, but it’s obviously best to avoid this scenario altogether. If you have an old house, take note of odd corners and narrow spaces. A little planning will prevent future headaches.

To learn the rest of the recommendations Andie Huber has to offer check out her article at www.msn.com/living/ or simply use the link above.

Follow us at www.coachhouseaccents.com/blog/ every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for advice on Curb Appeal, All Things Women, and DIY Project ideas.

Huber, Andie. “Home Free, Never-Make-These-Home-Decor-Mistakes-Again.” MSN Living. Jan 10, 2013.

Mercedes does a great job in defining simple steps to take when you make a decision to reach out. I hope her comments give all of us a starting point in inviting those we had a bond with back into our lives and then work to keep them there.

How To Reconnect With an Old Friend

Lost friendships happen to almost everyone. It just happens sometimes. You grow up, transfer schools, move away, got a job, get married, have a family. And then before you even knew it you have lost contact with most of your friends, your best friend even.

Sometimes we feel a need to resurrect an old friendship most especially if that friend had meant so much to us. How do you go about it? Should you call them up out of the blue and just ask how they are? Here are some steps that you can use.

1. Find them.

There a lot of ways now how you can find your old friend. If before we rely on the yellow pages, now there are a lot of websites that you can use like multiply, myspace, facebook or friendster. Try searching their names on the internet.

2. Establish Communication.

It has been a long time since you have last seen or talked to that person. Send them a casual email asking how they have been and talking a bit about yourself. Wait to see if they will respond.

3. Be respectful.

Do not put pressure on yourself or the other person. It’s ok if your old friend or both of you are a bit hesitant. It’s common to be awkward and to be a bit distant if you haven’t seen or spoken to each other in a while. If they don’t seem interested in you, don’t feel bad or frustrated. It sometimes takes a while for people to warm up and be comfortable.

4. Have a get-together.

If you both seem fine with being friends again, try going out. Try meeting for a short snack or afternoon tea. Choose something that you can be both comfortable with. Reminisce together. Share old jokes and funny memories. The idea here is to bond.

5. Be sincere.

Do you really want to renew the friendship with this person or you just want another business contact. Be honest with yourself and to the person.

6. Maintain them.

Once that you finally get things on track, maintain that newly revived friendship. Keep your communication lines open. Make yourself available when they ask for Saturday brunches or for the weekend barbeque.

7. Gauge their reaction and attitude.

It takes two people to make a friendship work. If they continue to decline your invitations, maybe they do not want to continue the friendship. Even if you have been close friends before, keep in mind that people do change. Don’t take it against them.

Remember that friendship, when it works for both parties is beneficial and valuable. In time, friendships can become richer and more precious. Sometimes, they require effort, sacrifices and compromises. But be reminded that friendships keep the well-being of one another in mind.

Source: Smith, Mercedes. “How to reconnect with an old friend.” Yahoo.com. October 29, 2008. http://voices.yahoo.com/how-reconnect-old-friend-2088585.html

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Hopefully these amazing transformations gave you some ideas on how to create more curb appeal. To read more in depth on what was done to these homes and more, follow the link below.

Link

Readers, Toh. “Best Curb Appeal Before and Afters 2012.” Thisoldhouse.com. Dec, 19, 2012.