Last night I made some minor changes to my blog template when my Follower Box disappeared and my background went purple. I have searched for any reason why and finally I had to start using FireFox as my Internet instead of Internet explorer. Now it is back. I mentioned it to my all and knowing Husband and he thought that I must have updated to the newest explorer version. It also changed how it opens new windows and how it updated pages when I commented or clicked on links.
If you check in on your blog and your followers box is gone and you get a "cross scripting" has been stopped type of notice, you may need to switch to another Internet browser. Although, I hope my viewers are able to see my full blog and side panel. Let me know if this has happened to you and how you stopped it.
Of course, I love followers, either by Google, Bloglovin, and Linky.
Showing posts with label TIPS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TIPS. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
In's and Out's of Paint basics
If you are planning on painting your self, you may consider what paint will work best in your home.
Some questions you may want to ask are:
What is Latex and oil paint?
What sheen should you use?
What brand is better?
If you want a low VOC Paint?
What colors may need a primer coat?
The first thing you may do is go the the nearest paint store to find out what kind of paint to use.
There are several different types of common house paint the most common being Latex.
Latex comes in all sheens from flat to gloss. It is quick drying {a few hours} and holds up well in most applications. It is also low odor and does come in Low VOC. Latex is commonly used for walls and the popular sheens are low sheen or eggshell. One of the questions I get most often is: Don't I need to use semi-gloss for baths and kitchens? the answer is no. Back in the days of our grandmothers, the best paint was Oil based and came in higher sheens like semi-gloss. Since then latex paint has come a long way and now holds up well in moist rooms and cleans very well for greasy areas. I commonly paint eggshell in both of these areas.
Oil-based paints are commonly used for woodwork. They are still popular for these areas but are increasingly changing to latex or a hybrid. Latex does come in higher sheens and has several pro's for using instead of oil.
Latex Pros: Dries fast, easy touch up, cleans up with water. Low odor, and comes in LowVOC, stays flexible, less yellowing over time. It is flexible so it will chip less.
Oil Based: Takes 8-12 hours to dry, low VOC variety can take more than this to dry, will yellow over time as little as 6 months, harder to touch up especially since it yellows, gets brittle as it continues to cure. It will crack and chip when bumped.
Enamal comes in both latex and Oil and is usually used for woodwork and doors. Enamal is made to be thicker and hold up to washing and bumps. It also tends to level out to a smoother finish.
Latex and oil are now very similar in apearance and Latex continues to get better for fine finish work.
Sheen is the next thing to consider.
Satin is a good middle of the road and holds up well in all areas in the house.
Eggshell is popular and does hold up well but I recommend a middle of the line or above paint. Cheap paints should be in a higher sheen to hold up.
Flat is great for ceilings and works well in closets.
Semi gloss is common for trim, satin has been becoming more popular as well.
If you are choosing to paint a whole room you would use latex enamal for wood work,
Eggshell for walls, and flat for the ceiling and closet.
Low VOC (Volital Organic Compounds) Usually the problems people have with paint is the amonia in paint. This makes me sneeze when I paint. Low VOC paints have less or none of this and other things that make it smelly. Low VOC paints can also be Low odor. I always question a Low VOC paint that still has a noticable odor. The little odor a good paint has will disapait as it dries and does not linger as long as a regualr paint. Solvent based paints will also have Low VOC's but may still have a higher odor. The VOC's have just been lowered not eliminated.
Now Let's talk about brands. I have a preference to Sherwin-Williams for several reasons.
Proximity, I did start going to Sherwin-Williams because they were close. I recommend going to a close store and get to know who's behind the counter.
Most stores will keep your information for 3 to 5 years, incase you need to repaint or touch up what you have ordered.
Quality: Not all paint is made the same. I know many of you love Behr and this is very strange to most contractors as it is the worst paint for us to use. There are Hate Behr sites out there from contractors. In my experience I call Behr paint "Babysitters paint" as soon as I turn around it runs down the wall. I also do not give a warranty when I use paint becasue of its inconcistency. Home owners love it because of the convience of location and store hours. It realy is expensive and is not the quality of other paint lines. I always recommend going to a paint store, they are all about paint and will give you the best options.
Ask what contractors use. Often times the guys at the paint store will offer the most expensive paint. They are selling. Contractors will use contractors lines and have a preference for certain paints. I like paints that are good on cost and hold up well. Here are some statics to think about when considering paint. These are based on averages and my own experience.
1# Walls are painted every 7 years.
2# ceilings are painted every 20years.
As well as closets.
3# Trim and doors are painted every 15 years.
4# Exteriors are painted every 10 years.
You may decide to buy $50 paint that has a lifetime warranty and think you will not paint again.
However, you will buy a new couch and want a new color or replace windows so the exterior needs to be painted. Using a middle of the road paint { Not too cheap or expensive} is best.
Let me know how your paint project goes. I also love to answer questions.
Happy Painting!!
Linked at
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/
Some questions you may want to ask are:
What is Latex and oil paint?
What sheen should you use?
What brand is better?
If you want a low VOC Paint?
What colors may need a primer coat?
The first thing you may do is go the the nearest paint store to find out what kind of paint to use.
There are several different types of common house paint the most common being Latex.
Latex comes in all sheens from flat to gloss. It is quick drying {a few hours} and holds up well in most applications. It is also low odor and does come in Low VOC. Latex is commonly used for walls and the popular sheens are low sheen or eggshell. One of the questions I get most often is: Don't I need to use semi-gloss for baths and kitchens? the answer is no. Back in the days of our grandmothers, the best paint was Oil based and came in higher sheens like semi-gloss. Since then latex paint has come a long way and now holds up well in moist rooms and cleans very well for greasy areas. I commonly paint eggshell in both of these areas.
Oil-based paints are commonly used for woodwork. They are still popular for these areas but are increasingly changing to latex or a hybrid. Latex does come in higher sheens and has several pro's for using instead of oil.
Latex Pros: Dries fast, easy touch up, cleans up with water. Low odor, and comes in LowVOC, stays flexible, less yellowing over time. It is flexible so it will chip less.
Oil Based: Takes 8-12 hours to dry, low VOC variety can take more than this to dry, will yellow over time as little as 6 months, harder to touch up especially since it yellows, gets brittle as it continues to cure. It will crack and chip when bumped.
Enamal comes in both latex and Oil and is usually used for woodwork and doors. Enamal is made to be thicker and hold up to washing and bumps. It also tends to level out to a smoother finish.
Latex and oil are now very similar in apearance and Latex continues to get better for fine finish work.
Sheen is the next thing to consider.
Satin is a good middle of the road and holds up well in all areas in the house.
Eggshell is popular and does hold up well but I recommend a middle of the line or above paint. Cheap paints should be in a higher sheen to hold up.
Flat is great for ceilings and works well in closets.
Semi gloss is common for trim, satin has been becoming more popular as well.
If you are choosing to paint a whole room you would use latex enamal for wood work,
Eggshell for walls, and flat for the ceiling and closet.
Low VOC (Volital Organic Compounds) Usually the problems people have with paint is the amonia in paint. This makes me sneeze when I paint. Low VOC paints have less or none of this and other things that make it smelly. Low VOC paints can also be Low odor. I always question a Low VOC paint that still has a noticable odor. The little odor a good paint has will disapait as it dries and does not linger as long as a regualr paint. Solvent based paints will also have Low VOC's but may still have a higher odor. The VOC's have just been lowered not eliminated.
Now Let's talk about brands. I have a preference to Sherwin-Williams for several reasons.
Proximity, I did start going to Sherwin-Williams because they were close. I recommend going to a close store and get to know who's behind the counter.
Most stores will keep your information for 3 to 5 years, incase you need to repaint or touch up what you have ordered.
Quality: Not all paint is made the same. I know many of you love Behr and this is very strange to most contractors as it is the worst paint for us to use. There are Hate Behr sites out there from contractors. In my experience I call Behr paint "Babysitters paint" as soon as I turn around it runs down the wall. I also do not give a warranty when I use paint becasue of its inconcistency. Home owners love it because of the convience of location and store hours. It realy is expensive and is not the quality of other paint lines. I always recommend going to a paint store, they are all about paint and will give you the best options. Ask what contractors use. Often times the guys at the paint store will offer the most expensive paint. They are selling. Contractors will use contractors lines and have a preference for certain paints. I like paints that are good on cost and hold up well. Here are some statics to think about when considering paint. These are based on averages and my own experience.
1# Walls are painted every 7 years.2# ceilings are painted every 20years.
As well as closets.
3# Trim and doors are painted every 15 years.
4# Exteriors are painted every 10 years.
You may decide to buy $50 paint that has a lifetime warranty and think you will not paint again.
However, you will buy a new couch and want a new color or replace windows so the exterior needs to be painted. Using a middle of the road paint { Not too cheap or expensive} is best.
Let me know how your paint project goes. I also love to answer questions.
Happy Painting!!
Linked at
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
20 Uses for Lanolin
Being a new Mom I purchased Lanolin and started to use it for the first month. I bought a larger tube and just did not need it for very long. I wanted to know what else I could use Lanolin for. It utrns out to be a great product to have around and a small amount will go a long way. Here is a list of a few things to use that left over lanolin or maybe keep some on hand, it is quite useful.
This is my favorite brand.
Here are some articles I referenced idea's from.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/109584-lanolin-uses/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanolin
I am linked to
- Melt a small amount and mix with water for waterproofing, 1tsp to 2 cups of water. Spritz on shoes and fabrics to protect against stains.
- Soak fabrics in mixture to water proof.
- Use on chapped skin, lips, and eczema.
- Protect cheeks from cold.
- Great for skin sores and chapped skin, it's is a great barrier for moisture can help speed healing.
- Cuticle repair
- Mix with Homemade body butters add in 2 tsp.
- Soften feet by applying overnight.
- Gardeners hands, protects against cuts and moisture loss. It is also great for speeding the healing of small cuts and scrapes from over worn hands.
- Put under noses of your little ones with colds to protect the skin from over drying and wiping.
- Add essential oil, like eucalyptus and lavender, and apply to feet or chest.
- Has anti bacterial properties great for after hand wash for extra protection and to protect against bacteria getting into sores and cuts on hands.
- Softens and protects leather, for leather car seats and base ball gloves.
- Add onto a bore hair bristle brush and brush throughout hair for added shine and moisture protection.
- Use as a pomade by applying a small pea size amount on hands and rubbing on hair or day use as a defrizzer and night for moisture retention.
- Add into the Homemade laundry detergent in a small amount, 2tsp to one gallon, for added stain protection and waterproofing. Stains will be less absorbed into the fabric. Not recommended for laundering cloth diapers.
- It is often used in store bought eye drops to help lubricate. At home rub a small amount at the corner of the eye to lubricate and keep sensitive skin lubricated and protected against dry weather.
- Red cheeks and dry skin rub on after cleansing to help fight against bacteria common to acne and roseca and help speed healing.
- Add into Homemade lip gloss recipe for added protection and longevity of application.
- Use on elbows and knees to heal and soften dry skin patches.
Here are some articles I referenced idea's from.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanolin
I am linked to
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Laundry Tips 101
With 6 people in my home now, one a new baby, I do alot of laundry. I want it to go smoothly and cheaply. I do like to save money and have great results. It starts with my Laundry Detergent recipe and now other tips for saving time and getting the spots out. You may also like my Dish Washer Detergent too.
1. Oils in clothes.
Oily stains can be removed with Salt and Lemon juice
Salt will absorb the oils and Lemon juice helps whiten.
Oily spot can also be treated with dish soap, as it is a degreaser.
2. Remove static
Dryer sheets are a controversy on whether we need them and if they have toxins that are harming us. I do know that they have wax in them that is meant to help repel liquids on clothes. It also clogs your dryer screen and can cause a higher risk for fire in the lint compartment. You can save by not using the sheets and add 1/4 cup vinegar to your rinse cycle. You can also try using concentrate fabric softener and spray it on a rag then throwing it in the dryer. The problem is still chemicals. A dryer ball or tennis ball helps disperse the static and is very inexpensive. The Dollar store has dryer balls.
3. Wrinkles
If you shake you clothes out of the dryer, which also disperses static, hang in your closet. The wrinkles will relax.
4. Whitens
Vinegar, Lemon juice, Hydrogen Peroxide added in place of bleach or as a stain treatment after you have tried washing the stain out. Use on light colored clothes.
5. Homemade pretreater
Mix Washing soda and Hydrogen peroxide equal parts and 2 parts of hot water. Heat until mixed and put in a spray bottle. You can also use Baking soda in place of washing soda.
6. Sunlight
Cloth diapering Mama's know this trick. Protein spots can whiten if placed in the sun. Try washing out with dish soap and if the spot is still there, layout in the sun.
7. Treat right away.
One thing I have started doing with my fourth baby is treating right away. I think with all my other babies I just was not organized enough to always treat spots. Now that I know I am handing all my little ones clothes to my sisters, one having recently had a boy and one expecting another baby, I want to make sure they go in good condition. I used an empty creamer bottle and filled with laundry detergent and placed in my bathroom. I can rinse the stain and soak in the sink. It is also convenient for washing my unmentionables.
8. Having a Zote or Fels-Naptha bar around is also great for stain treating. It can also be kept in a near by sink for easy quick stain treatments. Wet fabric and rub bar on the stain. Both are strong and will get just about any stain out.
Castile soap can also be used to pretreat. It is a vegetable based soap and can be found at most natural grocery stores.
9. Baking soda
Baking soda is great for deodorizing and whitening. It also can absorb oil as the salt does. Add 1/4 cup to a wash load for a booster.
10. Washing soda
This is a great alternative to other laundry booster that are full of phosphates. Phosphates are what damages out water and fish. It is outlawed in some places in the detergent but still can be used in boosters. This can be added to a wash load or used in the homemade detergent. You can also make it into a paste and scrub at the stain. I also use it for cleaning around the house. Great Eco friendly product.
1. Oils in clothes.
Oily stains can be removed with Salt and Lemon juice
Salt will absorb the oils and Lemon juice helps whiten.
Oily spot can also be treated with dish soap, as it is a degreaser.
2. Remove static
Dryer sheets are a controversy on whether we need them and if they have toxins that are harming us. I do know that they have wax in them that is meant to help repel liquids on clothes. It also clogs your dryer screen and can cause a higher risk for fire in the lint compartment. You can save by not using the sheets and add 1/4 cup vinegar to your rinse cycle. You can also try using concentrate fabric softener and spray it on a rag then throwing it in the dryer. The problem is still chemicals. A dryer ball or tennis ball helps disperse the static and is very inexpensive. The Dollar store has dryer balls.
3. Wrinkles
If you shake you clothes out of the dryer, which also disperses static, hang in your closet. The wrinkles will relax.
4. Whitens
Vinegar, Lemon juice, Hydrogen Peroxide added in place of bleach or as a stain treatment after you have tried washing the stain out. Use on light colored clothes.
5. Homemade pretreater
Mix Washing soda and Hydrogen peroxide equal parts and 2 parts of hot water. Heat until mixed and put in a spray bottle. You can also use Baking soda in place of washing soda.
6. Sunlight
Cloth diapering Mama's know this trick. Protein spots can whiten if placed in the sun. Try washing out with dish soap and if the spot is still there, layout in the sun.
7. Treat right away.
One thing I have started doing with my fourth baby is treating right away. I think with all my other babies I just was not organized enough to always treat spots. Now that I know I am handing all my little ones clothes to my sisters, one having recently had a boy and one expecting another baby, I want to make sure they go in good condition. I used an empty creamer bottle and filled with laundry detergent and placed in my bathroom. I can rinse the stain and soak in the sink. It is also convenient for washing my unmentionables.
8. Having a Zote or Fels-Naptha bar around is also great for stain treating. It can also be kept in a near by sink for easy quick stain treatments. Wet fabric and rub bar on the stain. Both are strong and will get just about any stain out.
Castile soap can also be used to pretreat. It is a vegetable based soap and can be found at most natural grocery stores.
9. Baking soda
Baking soda is great for deodorizing and whitening. It also can absorb oil as the salt does. Add 1/4 cup to a wash load for a booster.
10. Washing soda
This is a great alternative to other laundry booster that are full of phosphates. Phosphates are what damages out water and fish. It is outlawed in some places in the detergent but still can be used in boosters. This can be added to a wash load or used in the homemade detergent. You can also make it into a paste and scrub at the stain. I also use it for cleaning around the house. Great Eco friendly product.
Monday, February 20, 2012
How to for a Grab button with box
I finally figured out the grab button and box. It is now in my sidebar and I wanted to share the link for creating your own.
If you already have a picture created go ahead and follow the instructions and you will have your own box. If you need to make a button go to Picnik.com and sign up for free. You only have until April 19 and they close down so use it now. Go to collage and pick a color and a square shape. You are going to resixe it so it really does not matter how big as along as it is square. This is your background and hit done. Next add in words and stickers as you like. Save it and go to Photobucket.com and sign up for free. Upload the button and resize it to 120x120, which is common. Then go to the tutorial link above to create your button.
While your at it, add my button to your blog.
Happy Blogging!!
Tricia Marie
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