5 Eco Friendly Home Trends Everyone Must Try

Most of us want to be eco-friendly, but don’t quite know where to start. There is so much information out there, green advertisers competing for our attention, telling us to do what is right by buying their products. The truth is it doesn’t have to be complex. Here are five simple things you can do to make your home more environmentally friendly. Just make them a regular part of your routine and you will be making a difference. Of course, if you are building a new home and want to find out what eco-friendly home trends you can include in your design, talk to experts and/or do some research online at sites like http://www.coralhomes.com.au/ .
 

Let’s Look at Lights

LED lights use just a fraction of the electricity of other lights. While CFL (compact fluorescent light) bulbs use less electricity than regular light bulbs, LED lights are still a superior energy saving choice. LED lights provide excellent lighting without the electricity usage and are a really good green lighting option. And they make good financial sense. While they will cost a little more, around $20 to $50 each, they will last an average of six times longer than CFLs. As they do not contain mercury their disposal is also much safer and if they break there is no mercury hazard to deal with. Start small: next time you need a new light bulb choose an LED light; continue this practice until your whole house is lit with LED lighting.

 

Add a Water Filter to Your Kitchen Tap

This very simple addition will have a huge impact on the taste and quality of the water you drink from the tap. Instead of buying bottled water and creating more and more plastic waste, you can add a water filter to your tap and enjoy beautiful water without the expense and without the waste. Choose one that you can turn off so that you do not shorten the filter life by filtering water used for washing dishes.

 

Choose No VOC or Low VOC PaintVOCs, or volatile organic compounds, are actually solvents that are released into the atmosphere as paint , emitting toxic fumes. They can have serious effect on the body causing dizziness and headaches. Some VOC’s are even suspected of being carcinogenic. Traditional paints can carry these harmful chemicals, but innovations in the paint industry have seen manufacturers creating beautiful and durable paints without the VOCS. You don’t need to compromise on your safety or on quality.

 

Green Cleaners

Another simple way to make your home more eco-friendly is to switch to green cleaning products. Every time you run out of something choose its green counterpart when you go to the supermarket to replace it. This will help rid your home of chemicals that are harmful to you and also to the environment.

 

Use Organic Fertilisers in the Garden

Lastly, choose organic fertilisers for your garden. These will encourage your garden to grow without the negative impact on the environment. Organic fertilisers are readily available and easy to apply. Choose organic and make your garden safer and greener.

 

Do you have any eco-friendly trends that we haven’t mentioned? Leave your tips in the comments below.

Our Home is Listed in the Real Estate Market

After painting the exterior of the house, we have few days extra to de-clutter the inside of our house. We are so tired but, we have to pull ourselves together to get this done and listed. Last Friday, we sign the papers and the house was listed in the market that evening. One client look at the property the next day which is a good sign. Our things are in the garage jam-packed. Oh my goodness, LOL.

We left some furniture's for staging and all we did was de-clutter and clean good. I really hope that this property will be sold fast so we can really start looking for our new home as well. This is our third property and the other two are condos which we rented. We have no plans of living in a condo so; we are currently looking for a 3 bedroom/2bath home with a big yard. 

In less than two weeks, the side fence of the house will be fix and the next owner will be glad to have that fix. Our home is located in a corner lot and in a nice neighborhood. We will surely miss this house for sure.

Origami Garden: Great Gro Project

This post brought to you by Miracle-Gro. All opinions are 100% mine.

Would you consider your garden an oasis? Are you having fun in your garden this summer? I was at the gazebo yesterday, ready for my crafting activity but, I needed an inspiration for fun garden projects.Online browsing was all I did. I was actually looking for a garden activity idea that is unique and easy to make so; I checked The Gro Project on Facebook. It took me a minute to find a great Gro Project from Miracle-Gro.

 

I found the Origami Garden, simple and fun to make. The fact that the materials needed are available in my crafting kit so; doing the project is super easy. I had fun doing it so; would you like to try it too? Check out the materials needed to make an Origami Garden below: If you have all the materials so; lets make it now!

Here are the 5 steps and I am sure, you and your family will enjoy doing this project.
1. Use the Origami template (download it) to draw a polygon on a piece of cardboard, then cut it out.
2. Fold your cardboard according to instructions. Glue the overlapping pieces together.
3. While the glue is drying, use the macrame' template (download it) to knot your hanger.
4. Fill a lightweight pot with potting mix, then transfer your plant to it. Water it and when it is completely dry, nestle it into the origami planter and hang.
5. Finally, sit back and enjoy your masterpiece! Keep it looking lovely by giving it plenty of sun, water and plant food such as the LiquaFeed All Purpose Plant Food Advance Starter Kit.

How do you like it so far? Would you like to know more of the Gro Project ideas? Just check out the video below and you can also follow the Miracle Gro Online. For garden stories, ideas, tips and more, please follow the Miracle Gro Pinterest page.

Gardening is fun when you are creative so; having the Origami garden project is an addition into your garden oasis. Have fun and enjoy your garden this summer!

Birds on the Fence

I was lounging in the gazebo just enjoying the breeze when this blue bird came by and hopped on the fence. This is not the first time that I saw this bird in our yard.

Another bird is on the electrical wire, observing everyone below including me LOL.

Here is the blue bird again taking the throne of the gray bird.

In another day, I saw the blue bird in deep thought LOL. 

We have a bird bath and they love to swim on it especially right after I changed the water, clever huh. Next time, I will use my DSLR to get a good shot. Thanks for stopping by.

Nasty Weeds on the Backyard

I was trying to get ready for gardening when I saw these beauties on the backyard. Armed with lawn spot weeder, I definitely make sure that these weeds will not thrive. But, take a closer look first:

Aren't they gorgeous up-close?

After taking these photos, I took them out. Giving way for a healthy vegetable and flower garden soon.

Try to see what's on your yard and if you see some flowers, zoom your camera and take a snap. You will definitely appreciate their beauty.

This one below is really pretty. It looks like the plant my mom had one time.

The weed below, I don't like it at all. It thrive so fast but, easy to uproot though. With this weed around, it can kill your good grass so; you better take it out fast!

You probably have this in your backyard right now. This is common and get rid of it ASAP.

That's all for now folks. Thanks for stopping by.

Carnation : Official Flower for Mother's Day Celebration

All women were given a carnation flower after the mass yesterday for Mother's Day celebration. Two year's in a row, I noticed that among the many flowers available, they choose carnation. I made some research and found out that carnation is a "flower of love".

Tracing from the time of Greek and Romans, Carnation holds significance in history. For Christians, it was believed that when Mary wept for Jesus as he carried the cross, the first carnation bloomed on earth. Carnation has many shades such as pale pink, peach, red, yellow, white, purple, and green. What I got here is white, so pure. 

Carnation has meanings such as fascination, distinction, and love. The different colors expresses different messages as well. Example, the light red carnation would mean admiration; the dark red would mean deeper love and affection. White carnations symbolizes purity and luck; the pink carnation is a sign of gratitude. 

Carnations became the official flower for Mother's Day starting in the early 20th century. I didn't know this at all. That is probably the reason why the church give out carnations and thus, remain a favorite flower of choice.  The carnation flower indeed is significant and have an alluring beauty worthy of appreciation..

Beauty in Spring: Blooms in my Garden

You really don't need to look too far to see the signs of spring. Go to your yard, look around your neighborhood or explore the nearest park in your area and for sure, you will see a budding tree, feel the warm weather and appreciate the flowers in bloom.

Today, I checked my garden and I couldn't help but, admire the pretty flowers in bloom.

Few of these plants are wild and they hibernate from the winter. Springtime is their moment for regrowth and my eyes are feasting in admiration of their radiance in my garden.

I love Spring months which are March, April and May but, this fact may differ from different countries. In my country, we have no spring season. We are so lucky that flowers bloom all year round.

The start of spring is not always determined by a fixed date. Accordingly, spring has biological indicators such as the blossoming of plant and the activities of animals.  Even the special smell of soil is also an indicator.

Spring vary according to the climate as well as the specific weather of a particular year.

I just learned this term ---> ecological reckoning which identify pre-spring season that is between the hibernal which is winter and vernal  which is spring seasons. 

This season supposedly the only time that the hardiest flowers are in bloom sometimes, while there is still some snow cover on the ground. Well, here in Florida, I doubt that we have this type of flower. We have no snow here that's why.

Anyway, winter in Florida is my favorite time of the year. This is the last month for spring which means, summer is fast approaching and I am not too thrilled about it. How about you? What time of the year is your favorite?

Best Realtor in Orlando

Finding the right home for your family is not easy at all. There will come a time that you will be in a dilemma whether to get a condo or a single family property type. If you want to avoid the hassle of maintaining your yard then, get the condo property. The HOA takes care all of those for you. The only downside is the space especially if you are used to having a bigger yard and family get-together.

The single family is the best option there is if you want privacy and bigger lots. Now, the hardest part is finding the great price in an awesome location. There are houses in the market that are immaculate but, don't get fooled by the looks. 

The location is the key for a successful venture of buying a property. You want your house to be in a safe neighborhood right? That way, your property value can only go up which is a great investment! 

Hire a knowledgeable realtor who is familiar in the neighborhood of your choice. Their suggestion is vital in the process of home buying. 

If you live in Orlando, Florida I recommend that you call MATT ABANILLA from La Rosa Realty. You can call him at 908-674-0999 or email him mabanilla@larosarealty.com . He is the best realtor there is and I can vouched for his hard work.

He sent me this great painting tips for the home and sharing it with you is my pleasure. Enjoy your DIY.

Gardening in Springtime

Spring is almost here and I am just as excited as you are to see all the blooms in the garden and most of all, enjoy the weather too. My husband harvested these tomatoes this morning. Out of six, this is the only tomato plant that survives from the scorching heat last season. Anytime this week, I will be planting some okra and tomatoes so; as of this time, I already check my garden and started cleaning up.

I have few jalapenos but, I am not planning to plant more because we do not use jalapeno that much.

I have at least 5 jalapenos and so far, it grows alright. Not the healthiest jalapeno but, so far, it still growing and bearing jalapeno for our table. I just planted tulips and iris so; I will not be seeing their blooms anytime soon. The tree at the front of our house started showing some green leaves after months of dormancy from cold season. So far, hubby and I are excited for Springtime and for sure, we will be spending time in our garden and the gazebo. How about you? What plants do you have in your garden?

Dreaming the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway 2013

Oh yeah, I am one of the hopefuls. Dreaming the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway for 2013 is truly my ultimate goal but, my chances as well as the others are slim. It is now in the hands of fate who will be the lucky winner this year. This house is super gorgeous and it's brand new now, who wouldn't want that for free? The tax will not be a problem because HGTV Dream Home Package includes $500,000 cash so; that will be enough to pay the taxes and other fees plus, there is a GMC brand new car. Whoever wins the fabulous giveaway can really have a fresh start of life huh?

If I win, I will move to this place and there's no holding us back because I work from home and hubby is retired. We might as well enjoy living a gorgeous house in a fabulous community. I probably can find work there too or maybe, start a day care business in the area.

I know I am not the only one dreaming to win this dream house package. My husband submit his daily entries religiously as well and he got his plans on what to do if ever he is the winner too. I know millions out there are praying to win too. I hope the angels in heaven favor my prayers :-) Good luck everyone! May the right person wins! How about you? Did you submit entries? What would you do if you win?

5 Tips To Beat The Coldest Class of Winter For Clarus Members

It’s that time of year again. Before you can cuddle up with your Valentine, January’s harsh drops in temperature can make the winter seem unbearable. Need some help keeping the cold outside? Don’t hide at home and bundle up in boring blankets. Even though you’re stuck in Seattle and can’t afford to take a vacation in San Diego, CA, there are many ways to feel the heat, cut down on heating costs and even have some fun. Here are a few helpful tips to keep you warm during the coldest time of this season:

1. Dress in layers. Here’s your chance to show off that new hat or sweater you got for Christmas! Adding layers to every outfit is an easy go to for quick warmth in the chilly winter weather. Do it in style with fashionable accessories. Make old, neutral colored jackets and coats come alive with patterned scarves or gloves with pops of color. The head, chest, and face are extremely sensitive to temperature change, so cover up! Tired of ears turning red and numb while listening to your favorite song? Accessorize by buying ear muffs or cozy hats with built in headphones. Not too crazy about spending? Consider this insider’s hint: shop online and find clubs or sites that offer free shipping rebates. Websites like those owned by Clarus Marketing Group offer up to 20% off on fashion items through coupon codes and discounts. Not only will you save cash, you won’t even have to go out in the bitter cold to get what you need, it will be delivered right to your doorstep for free!

2. Turn up the space heater and lower the bills. People often head straight for the thermostat, but heating up the immediate space surrounding your body first (instead of the entire house or apartment) can save a ton of energy and money. If you’re struggling to keep your hands off the thermostat, consider getting a programmable edition that can lower the heat when you’re sleeping or not home. This will decrease the daily percentage of heat used in the home and subsequently lower your energy costs).

3. Don’t hesitate to bundle up even indoors. Insulating clothes keep the heat – and your money – from escaping your body. Your feet are also sensitive to severe weather changes. A chilly floor (whether it’s bathroom tiles or hardwood) can change the way your body feels in a matter of seconds. Learn to love socks – wearing them can make a huge difference! When going out, add an insulated insole or foam lining to your boots to keep your feet toasty. You can easily find these items for sale anywhere during winter but if you are too cold and lazy to go to the store and get them, why don’t you just order them online? Make sure to use coupon codes while you’re at it – you can probably even save up to $15 off and get free shipping.

4. Healthy alternatives to heat you up. The cold weather provides plenty of opportunities to work on that New Year’s resolution you seem to always forget: losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Exercise is one of the easiest ways to boost up your body heat and keep that promise of going to the gym. Don't sit still for too long. Keep moving! The winter can easily turn sour if you get sick or depressed. Make sure you get the proper amount of water, vitamins, social activity, and sunshine daily to keep you going strong. Hungry for a hearty snack? Foods high in legitimate, healthy fat (like nuts and avocados) can help regulate core body temperature and promote a well balanced diet with plenty of nutrition.

5. Keep cozy in the kitchen. Looking for a low key night without the wind chill? Have some fun even if you settle on staying in on a weekend. Invite some friends and family over for a casual get together. Hang out in your kitchen and kick the heat up by using the oven. Bake a tasty snack (in fairness, who can say no to cookies?) or a simple meal to heat up the house without hearing the thermostat – and the bills – go up. Serve a warm beverage, like hot chocolate (coffee or tea, if your guests are craving some caffeine) to raise your body temperature while you wait for the timer to go off.

Whether you’re staying in or going out for the night, there are plenty of ways to stay warm without breaking the bank in 2013. Don’t let winter scam you out of enjoying time with friends and family. Follow these tips and you’ll surely notice a difference!

Poinsettia, Dew and Childhood Memories

Summertime when I was little, my mom would send me to the province to have a vacation with my uncles and cousins. I remember that I was an early riser because I love to watch the sunrise. My uncle lives in Bukidnon, Philippines and this place is fabulous. Cool weather, fresh air, farm lands and beautiful scenic view. In the morning, my cousins and I love to hang out in the yard. My inquisitive minds would start to wander around the area fascinated with everything such as insects, plants, and yeah, including the grasses and the dew. I live in the city so; these stuffs are fascinating. I would touch the grass and the dew would make my hands wet. Dew is water in the form of droplets. Seeing my poinsettia with dew brings back my childhood memories.

I bought Poinsettia as Christmas decoration and when the holiday is over, I planted them in the backyard. I always love this plant. Did you know that in Mexico this plant is called "Noche Buena", meaning Christmas Eve? They have a legend about a young girl who was too poor to give a present for Jesus birthday. She was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in the altar. The seeds sprouted and blossoms which now called as poinsettias. What a nice story huh? They said that the star-shaped leaf pattern symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem, and the red color represents the blood sacrifice through the crucifixion of Jesus. I read it online that here in the US, December 12 is National Poinsettia Day. Interesting isn’t it?

Creating an Outdoor Oasis

If you own a property with a backyard whether it is just a descent size or humongous space; setting a cozy atmosphere would be your thing. You probably became a home store shopper for the last few weeks trying to pick up outdoor design elements such as planters, flower and fruit bearing plants, candle holders and more.

Having a gazebo in the backyard is an added charm. Or maybe, you are the type of homeowner who likes to splurge a project in the backyard aiming to get a functional oasis. Whatever it is, just go for it. Did you make a deck or added a patio for barbecue party? That project must be an envy subject by your friends huh? I bet, window shopping became your passion lately and let me guess, have you been eyeing on the gorgeous solar lanterns in the garden center? I can totally relate to that!

If those lanterns are sold out from the home store, don't worry. You can purchase quality design products at batteryoperatedcandles.net. This company has so many unique lanterns to choose from. Shopping is easy when you do it online right? Take your pick from battery operated led lights or battery operated candles.

When you light a candle as you enjoy the beauty of the outdoor is like setting a romantic ambiance of the space. The flickering flame ignites a peaceful space but, it could ignite a real disaster when neglected as well. My preferences for outdoor lighting fixtures are battery operated led lights or solar lanterns. The latter is energy efficient in fact; we have few of those in the yard. It shines so bright after sunset. When you use the traditional candles, the flame is a hazard especially when neglected and it might start a fire if you live nearby the woods.

To avoid accidents, battery operated candle is a safe alternative outdoor decor to use. If you like to add more splurging in the hard, check out the Pre-Lit LED trees. They are so gorgeous and Willow Tree is my favorite. It is a bit pricey but, it will really make the yard pretty and inviting.

DIY Patio Project

Influenced by DIY TV show, I started my DIY patio project. My main goal is to do my project using affordable materials and splurge a flagstone, must use garden fabric, level it and do it right. This project is very tiring yet, after corner, I was satisfied with my work. Adding the garden fabric, leveling, laying the pavers and flagstones are easy. What I do not like was pulling the grass and it needs so much effort. I started with the 4 corners using these patio stones. That's my garden gloves showing the hard work that I did today.

Mirror Mirror Leaning on the Wall

This picture was taken at our condo about two years ago while I was planning where to put the huge mirror. This is a 150 lbs mirror and safety precaution must be adhere. I was able to locate its final place in the condo and it holds still for more than a year. Now, we already moved in for 5 months in our new home and it looks exactly like that. The mirror is just leaning beside the TV stand. I really don't know where to hang it.Maybe I can put this mirror in the office to make an illusion that the room is big. I might consider that idea. Anyway, have a great afternoon and thanks for stopping by. Enjoy the rest of the day.

Table Accessories

After moving in to our new home, arranging is non-stop. We lived here for 5 months now and it seems like forever. We love our neighborhood because it is peaceful and everyone takes care of their yard. We live near NASA's Kennedy Space Center and Cocoa Beach is just nearby where access to a beautiful beach is just few minutes away.Every major stores are just 10 minutes away. The only setback is that our favorite home furnishing store is not here. IKEA is in Orlando and we have to travel about an hour to get there. I bought these scented candles from IKEA and anytime this week, we will be shopping there to buy some needed decors and table accessories. Yes, it is worth to travel that far! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your weekend (*0*)

Our Gazebo

I woke up late today and was having a lazy day (again). I was so bored and can't even start to blog so; to make the most of my time at home, I went to the backyard and assemble our newly bought gazebo. It took me an hour and was satisfied with what I had accomplished. We wanted to hang out in our backyard but, the gnats are terrible. This gazebo provides shade, and style in our backyard. It is 12ft x 12ft wide and 117 in height. This is a good space to relax and next week, I will start my patio project.

Anyway, this gazebo is built around a durable steel frame and it was easy to assemble. It has 2 sections of privacy walls and 4 sided mosquito netting which we needed for protection from bugs. This gazebo is a beautiful addition in our backyard. The canopy is UV-resistant polyester and it won't fade in the sun. When I am done with the patio, I will post the picture of this gazebo in this blog. Come by next time.

Functional Kitchen

Three months ago, we bought a house near the beach and we have been enjoying living in it since we gutted the whole kitchen. It was a dingy, outdated and just a total mess area in the house. The project took 4 days to finish and now, we have a functional and one of our favorite hangout rooms in the house.

Purchasing the kitchen cabinet was not hard at all. I figured out the color, measurement and the lay-out so; workers will have no interruption in their job. The fun part was buying premium brands of faucets, stainless sink, cabinet handles, stainless steel appliances, beautiful countertop, backsplash, lighting fixtures and more. My husband and I wanted our kitchen to have a relaxing and contemporary appearance. So far, we are happy with our kitchen and it is the heart of our home where we enjoyed cooking our meals.

We chose the highest quality products that have the elegance in visual appearance and meet our standard. The planning and buying of materials were easy because we have been watching home shows on TV. Somehow, it helped us with our decision in the selection of kitchen products and accessories. We are happy with our kitchen and it feels great to own a house. For now, our next project is landscaping the back yard. Oh, I can't wait!

Statuary and Garden Decors in Colonial Drive

My father-in-law died of old age two years ago just two days before my birthday. Hubby and I always have him in our minds especially when we are in a garden center and in a restaurant. When we live with him, we spent more time gardening and mowing in his huge backyard. When we were tired, we go out and eat. We seldom cook in the kitchen. In his final months, he just want to dine out a lot.Anyway, hubby always wanted to buy something to put on his father's grave.

When hubby and I saw this statuary and garden decors in 17821 East Colonial Drive in Orlando, 32820 we stopped by and look around. My husband saw the stepping stone with US Air Force design on it is just perfect. We also bought a bird bath. Both items are so heavy so; if you plan to visit this place, you need to bring someone to help you carry the decors.

Planning to buy statues? This company has thousands of products such as religious, oriental, fountains, classic, wildlife, planters, bird baths, benches, pedestal, wall plaques and many more. They also have columns and balusters, concrete fireplace, gazebo and more. You should check it out! Here's the business and telephone #: Distinctive Statuary and Water Gardens , 407-568-6622.

Concrete Ceramics Marble Statues

While traveling from Cocoa Beach (our area) to Orlando, we passed by a big lot full of garden decors made of ceramics, marbles and solid concrete. Out of curiosity, we look around and they have thousands of products. They have different animal statues, medieval arts, columns, garden decors molded in different sizes. The bigger the statue, the higher the price tag but, their prices are way better compared to the display in the mall. The temperature was in the 90's at that time so; we decided to come back. On the next visit we bought a bird bath and a round air force marker to put on the grave for my father-in-law. Both items are made in solid concrete and the design was genius.