I’ve been offered the opportunity to try and review Kiwi Crate, a subscription service that supplies kids and parents with a box full of fun activities to do each month. We received our first Kiwi Crate in the mail just last week, and my kids are anxious to get started on the projects in this month’s crate! Our “Growing Gardens” crate is filled with two of everything, which is wonderful, since I have two daughters. In the crate are things to create a miniature window garden: Squash and bean seeds, plastic bags to start the seeds in and suction cups for hanging the bags on a Continue reading...
Shade Garden Complete For Now
Thanks to my setback, where I accidentally sliced through a Verizon cable while preparing my side yard's shade garden, it took me longer than I expected to complete a new shade garden for my home. The garden is nearly complete now, except for a small patch that I've left exposed, without a covering of red garden stone, because I am still waiting for Verizon to come in, take out the temporary cable that they installed, and bury a new permanent cable . But, I am happy with what I've been able to complete so far. I've lined my shade garden with a red gravel, and have planted the bed Continue reading...
Day 3: A Setback and a Learning Curve
Progress on my home's new shade garden is slow and sure -- with only a few days left to my daughters' summer vacation before school starts, I've been squeezing in as many hours in with my kids as I can. Well, progress on the garden was going well, until I made a major mistake late last week. Many of us have heard the warning to "call before you dig" before setting a spade or any other type of shovel into the earth at one's home. I learned that lesson the hard way late last week when my spade sliced a Verizon wire. Even though I was only digging about 6 inches into the earth to remove the Continue reading...
Day 2: Planting a Shade Garden
Despite the light drizzle here in Central New Jersey, I managed to plant three boxwoods and my two perrenials (lilyturf varegata) in my newly dug shade garden. I am happy with the progress I'm making so far! I still have a lot to do. I'd like to mix in topsoil to my garden (I already mixed in a little when I planted the boxwoods and perrenials), add some small red gravel, and perhaps add some edging like these red brick pavers: My kids don't feel like going shopping today because of the rain, but I think we'll hit the garden store later today anyway! Continue reading...
Day 1: Digging a New Shade Garden Bed
I while back, I posted about my plans to put in a shade garden on the north side of my home. Well, this past weekend, I got started earlier on the garden than I thought I would. Saturday morning I drove past a garden nursery that was having a 30% off sale for all of its plants. I had to take advantage of it! So, I wound up purchasing three boxwood plants for about $11 each. So, later that day, while the kids were playing outside, I decided to try to get started on the bed. I started digging up the sod, and the grass came up easier than I thought! I guess I have all the rain we've Continue reading...
My New Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Pet Upright Vacuum
I just got a new vacuum. The vacuum I purchased is the Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Pet Upright Vacuum, Bagged, UH30310 from Amazon.com. I've only used the vaccum a few times to date, but so far, I have to say, I am liking it. The machine has great suction and at just 15 pounds, is a lot lighter than my old machine -- which is terrific. I need a light machine because my home (unfortunately) has wall-to-wall carpeting, including on the stairs that lead to my home's second level. (I would prefer wood floors, which look better and gather less dust, but they are Continue reading...
Night Owls Unite
As I write this post (at nearly 11:30 p.m.), the rest of my family is fast asleep. Whicn is odd -- on a normal night, my husband stays up past midnight watching late-night news shows and his favorite flicks, while my kids wake up at least once or twice to extra get hugs and kisses before settling in for the night. I should be checking in, too. I was so tired today -- while waiting to see the doctor at a checkup, I was so exhausted that I felt like I was going to fall off the table! But I am just getting started, and have so much I want to do! Something about a quiet house is so Continue reading...
Weeds Be Gone!
I spent yesterday at a family member’s house, so I decided to give him a hand and get some of the weeds out of the brick walkway that leads to his home. The walkway is covered with crabgrass and clover – so much so that the weeds look like they will soon take over the space. The problem is that this family member doesn’t want to use chemicals or a commercial weed killer on the weeds, so getting the weeds – which are quite large – out from between the bricks is very tough. I thought about spraying on some weed killer on and not telling him about it, but because he has pets who might inject Continue reading...
Gettting the Most Out of Your Space
I read on Yahoo today that Internet stories on small spaces are becoming more prevalent and more popular. As people struggle to make a living in today's rough economy, I am sure smaller, but more affordable, spaces are more in demand. I watched a video today about Felice Cohen, a woman who makes her living as a professional organizer and lives in a miniscule 90-square-foot apartment. The pluses to her small New York City space are that it is centrally located, is only a block from Central Park, and rents for only $700 a month -- which is a steal for Manhattan. I watched videos today about Continue reading...
Planning a Shade Garden
Lately, I have been dreaming about starting a shade garden in my home’s side yard. With a playground behind our house, our backyard can sometimes be noisy, and the side yard, which is on the north (and shadier) side of the house, is a lot quieter. Also, my kids love to use the Slip ‘N Slide in the side yard, which has a wide expanse of grass. So, I’d love to create a rock garden in the shade next to the house, to provide a pretty place for me to sit when I am watching the kids play, or if I want a quiet spot to read a magazine or a book. To jump start my plans, I did some research on Continue reading...
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