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How To Decorate A Room With High Ceilings For Christmas
An icy chill grips the air... frost is on the windshield, and Halloween is over. This can only mean one thing - it's time to decorate for Christmas, of course. Christmas, the holiday season, and the winter solstice are all nearly upon us, so it is definitely time to deck the halls. These days, however, our "halls" often include high, vaulted or cathedral ceilings. While this feature of modern homes makes rooms feel extra large and open, ultra-high ceilings can pose challenges when it comes to holiday decorating. On the bright side, all that extra space provides plenty of canvas to project your greatest Christmas and winter wonderland fantasies. Let's…
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How To Grow Your Own Garlic This Winter For Amazing Flavor & Health Benefits
In my recent post October Garden Chores: Essential Fall Tasks In Your Garden, I discuss how autumn is prime-time for gardeners in many locations to sow cold weather crops. While many think of fall as a time for harvest only, cold weather crops, including garlic, should be planted now to ensure an abundant summer crop. In just a few short months, planted cloves will yield a fresh crop of spicy, earthy garlic bulbs in time to flavor your summer culinary creations. By planting your own garlic, not only do you get a flavor-packed powerhouse, but you get a nutritional powerhouse as well. Recognized for having some of the greatest natural…
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How To Grow Orchids Bare Root Without A Medium Or Pot
If you have an orchid, you are probably aware that most orchids are sold in media in some type of pot. Home gardeners often continue this pot-bound method of growing their orchids until suddenly they notice their orchid struggling. But, what if I told you there is a better way to grow your orchids? A method that mimics an orchid's natural way of growing? A method that avoids many orchid-growing problems, while offering a stunning, wild and rustic way to display your orchids... Well, there is, and this method is called growing your orchids "bare root" without a medium or pots. That's right, under certain conditions, you can grow your…
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Best Healthy Homemade Coffee Creamer Made Naturally – No Trans Fats, Easy, Delicious
Even if you are not a coffee drinker, the many enticing flavors of creamer on the market are enough to drive you to drink - coffee, that is. From French Vanilla to Caramel Macchiato to seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice, the options are endless. There are even candy bar flavors like Snickers. And if you are a coffee drinker, well, I'm sure nothing comes between you and your favorite flavor. But, if you have ever read the ingredients label, you may have been horrified to discover exactly what goes into your favorite creamer. Sugar, artificial additives and processed oils..? If you do a little research, you will find that many…
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What Is This White Fuzz On My Hibiscus? How To Rid A Hibiscus Of Mealybugs
Have you noticed your hibiscus has stopped blooming and is experiencing yellowing and dropping leaves? If your hibiscus is struggling, the root cause can seem like a mystery. However, upon closer inspection, if you observe a white cotton or wool-like substance has attached itself to your plant's buds, stems or leaves, your hibiscus is most definitely under attack. This particular "fuzzy" blight tends to cluster in tight crevices where hibiscus branches meet, as well as at leaf junctures and around buds. While this strange "fuzz" may resemble mold or fungus, it is actually something else entirely. Let's find out exactly what is feeding off your hibiscus, and most importantly, how…
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October Garden Chores: Essential Fall Tasks In Your Garden To Savor The Season
Spring and summer may be celebrated for their colorful flowers bursting with new life but October is truly a tapestry of vibrancy even as life slows in anticipation of winter darkness. The dropping temperatures in the march toward winter make October one of the most delightful times to be outside, savoring the season, especially as rapid changes take place altering the garden landscape. Low humidity and brisk, fresh air makes otherwise tedious garden tasks of harvesting and clean-up that much more enjoyable. Not to mention, the kaleidoscope of Fall colors that is the changing leaves and vivid Fall flowers. Let's take a look at a few essential October garden "chores"…
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How To Grow Fresh Herbs Indoors This Winter
As the temperatures drop and the breezes turn brisk, it seems the time has come to bid our bountiful summer gardens adieu for now... But, wait... It doesn't have to be this way -- especially when it comes to our herb garden. Why leave your herbs outdoors in the ground to weather the long, cold winter? Most herbs can easily be potted, brought indoors and grown and enjoyed inside all winter long. Yes, you can still enjoy the scent and flavor of many fresh picked "summer" herbs in your dishes even in the dead of winter. So, if you want to enjoy fresh herbs and a sense of "summer" in…
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DIY Liquid Hand Soap: How To Turn Bar Soap Into Luxurious Liquid Soap, Save Money & Never Run Out Of Soap
It seems we use more hand soap these days than ever before so I was not too happy to see bare shelves at the local store where hand soap and other cleaning products used to be. Once again certain cleaning supplies are becoming harder to find. If you are noticing the same thing where you live, well, no need to stock-pile like it's the apocalypse. DIY liquid hand soap is actually unbelievably easy and cost-efficient to make with common household items. So, why then are we so reliant on the store-bought stuff? Apparently, we have forgotten, or maybe never knew, some basic "home arts" of kitchen alchemy as we have…
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The Best Colorful Landscape Lighting Ideas With Color Changing Lights Plus Advantages Of LED Outdoor Lights To Illuminate Your Landscape
You work hard landscaping your yard to boost your home's curb appeal in daylight hours. But why should your home and garden only stand out in the daytime? New outdoor multi-color LED and solar lighting options are simpler and less complicated than ever to both install and control. The available options are not only easier to use but affordable, enabling any homeowner to create a professional-looking and colorful "lightscape" at any budget. And I am not just talking about lighting up your landscape during the holidays -- although energy efficient LEDs now make even the most spectacular displays more energy-saving and affordable. Color-changing landscape lights allow you to boost your…
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File Cabinet Decluttering: How Long Do I Have To Keep Old Financial Files? When To Throw Out Old Bills, What To Keep & How Long
How often do you feel you are up to your ears in paper? Even in this "paperless' digital age, we still end up printing important documents, amassing receipts, and collecting bills. If you have an established filing system, you are already ahead of many who rely on a makeshift filing system also known as "piles of paper under the desk." Whatever your preferred filing method, you may find that all these papers are starting to take up a lot of valuable space. And do you really need to save that cable bill from five years ago? Let's figure out what to keep, what to shred and what to toss once…