Author: Uncommonspaces

By: Debbie Pfluger www.uncommomspaces.com

HOW TO PREPARE FOR A DISASTER.

Where I live, in Wisconsin, this begins the time when we are prone to storms. Including thunder storms, tornadoes, and wind storms. I’ve personally witnessed one tornado, and it wasn’t a fun time. Ever since then, I’ve learned to be more aware of the weather, and how to be more prepared for when bad weather strikes. There are several things you can do. Understand what disasters can affect your area, and know what to do to be safe. Another very important thing you can do is to build an emergency kit. I would like to take the time now, to help you be prepared and to build your own kit.

First of all, you want to make sure your storm kit is always stocked. Most items are inexpensive, and easy to find. Any one of them could save your life.

Once you have your basic items, then you can decide what other unique items your family may need. Like if you have pets, or an elderly person lives with you. Keep in mind, after an emergency you might have to survive on your own for up to 72 hours. That means you will need enough supplies, food, water, ect, for each member of your family to last that amount of time.

BUILDING YOUR BASIC SUPPLY KIT

You will want to store your items in airtight plastic bags and put your entire supply kit into 1 or 2 easy to carry plastic containers. Your kit should include the following items

• Water – One gallon per person per day. For drinking and sanitation.
• Food – At least a 3 day supply of non perishable food.
• Battery powered or hand crank radio.
• Flashlights
• First aid kit
• Extra batteries
• Whistle to signal for help.
• Dust mask to help filter contaminated air. And plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter in place.
• Toilet paper or towelettes, garbage bags for personal sanitation.
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities.
• Manual can opener
• Local maps
• Cell phones with chargers, and back ups.

ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES

These are the items unique to your family. That includes as follows.

• prescription meds.
• non prescription meds such as asprin, anti diarreah, antacids.
• glasses and contact solution.
• Infant formula, bottles, diapers
• Pet food
• cash
• important family documents
• sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
• extra clothing and shoes
• matches in a water proof conatiner
• personal hygiene items
• plastic eatery, plates and napkins.
• activities for children.

Once you have all these areas covered, you need to maintain your kit. So it will be ready when needed.

• Keep any canned food in a cool dry place.
• Store boxed food in a tightly closed plastic container.
• Replace expired items.
• Rethink your needs every year and update as your families needs change.

STORAGE FOR YOUR KITS

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I love 4th of July parties! Because they are the lick off to summer. There’s finally decent weather, everyone’s dying to break out the BBQ’s and out door games are being unpacked. Plus, I just love outdoor parties. There is just something so fun about entertaining outside.

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Are you looking to throw a classy 4th of July party for your family and friends this year? Try a few of these ideas to add some sophisticated red, white and blue flair to your event. These decorating ideas show your patriotic respect while still keeping your party feeling fancy and fun.

One of my biggest struggles with holiday parties is how easy it is for the decor to get too over the top or gaudy… there’s so many ideas for how to decorate for a back yard 4th of July BBQ. But most of them are overwhelming patriotic. And as I’m sure you’ve seen in the parties I’ve shared here so far, I like things to stay classy. So I figured I’d share with you a few ways I would decorate for a 4th of July party while still keeping it sophisticated. Enjoy my friends!

Keys to making your 4th of July party classy

• Keep it simple- don’t add too much.
• Add some formality – go for high quality products like paper plates and silverware.
• Be intentional – make your guest feel special

Classy decorating ideas for your 4th of July party.

1 Hang some bunting

Bunting is an easy way to add stylish patriotic flair to your party. But be sure to use it sparingly. I’d stick to just one banner or flag to keep it from getting to be too much. Try a garland over a food table, a casual drap on your fence or a few large flags on your porch railing.

2. Use your food!

A fun way to add some red, white and blue colors to your food table is with the food its self! Come up with creative ways to display your snacks like a flag fruit tray, angel food cake skewers and chocolate dipped strawberries with colored sprinkles.

3. Add some throw pillows.

Throw pillows are seriously my favorite way to add a pop of something – whether that’s color or a theme – to a space. Get some patriotic throw pillows and place them throughout your entertaining area for some classy vibrant 4th of July flair!

4. Place a few flags.

Flags are obviously the key patriotic decorating element, but when used all over the place, they can become extremely busy. Don’t shy away from using a few. I’m mean not more than 5-6. Try staking some into the edge of your yard, placing a few in a glass vase or other decorative piece, or in your floral center piece.

5. Use your flowers

Fresh flowers are a one of my go-tos when it comes to decorating a party- especially one with a food table. If your going to be purchasing and putting out bouquets of flowers anyway, why not be purposeful with them. And make them an element of red, white and blue flair. Try red and white flowers in a blue vase, white flowers in a vase with colored ribbon, or simply red white and blue flowers in glass jars

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After realizing things were getting pretty hectic around home. My wonderful man decided we would all load up in the Tahoe and take off for the day.

Part of his plan was stopping at a park for a picnic lunch. Which, bless his heart, he actually put together and packed it. Just so we could enjoy one of the first nice summer days.

After we ate, since it was getting hot, the kids decided to wade into the water a bit to cool off. But I soon realized they had waded up to they’re ankles in mud! And were trying to catch a frog!

THAT”S WHEN I REALIZED, SUMMER IS HERE, AND ITS TIME TO LOAD MY TRUCK WITH 10 THINGS FOR SUMMER ADVENTURES.

Hope you will enjoy with post!

1. Sweatshirts- Here in Wisconsin, temps can drop once the sun goes over the horizon. So now our adventure does not have to end when the sun goes to bed.
2. A change of clothes- Just because your kids may be out of diapers, does not mean you don’t need extras. I am accident prone myself. And you never know when that unexpected drip or splash may happen. Or one of your children goes swimming in their clothes. It could happen…
3. Picnic supplies- I keep a bag with a plastic table cloth, plastic ware, napkins and paper plates. Just in case you decide to grab something to eat, and stay a while longer. You will not have to worry about getting bird poop on your food. Just saying
4. Sunscreen – We do see the sun now and again here in Wisconsin. You never know when it will appear. So I carry some just in case.

5. Bug spray- The mosquitoes have been awful this year. Nothing like being out at a baseball game, and getting carried away by bugs!

6. Snacks- There is nothing worse than driving home from a fun activity, and finding your self hungry, or listening to the tune of IIIII”””””MMMMM HHHHUUUUNNNGGGRRRRRYYYYY!!!!!! Keep a box of granola bars, or other individually wrapped snacks handy to pass around.

7. Umbrella- When it rains, it pours! Nothing so miseralble as when it rains on your parade. Keep an umbrella handy, where its easy to grab, so you dont end up needing your extras as well!

8. A Sheet or blanket- I keep both. A sheet is great for unexpected stops at the beach. And the blanket is great for those roadside stops and fireworks, once the sun goes down.

9. Car activities- This depends on the age of your children. There are a ton of ideas on pintrest for this. I keep a couple note books, and boxes of pens, pencils, and markers. Because too many video games and movies, will rot the brain! Keep creativity alive.

10. Frisbee- Just for fun, and great for exercize at a rest stop in the midst of a long road trip. Just don’t toss in on the road, or at a near by person.

One other thing I like to keep with me is a first aid kit. This isn’t just for summer, although we tend to use it more in the summer. I keep one in the glove compartment, and now is a great time to check and restock if you already have one.

So, happy adventures to you. You have all the things you will ever need with you where ever you go.

Think your home is clean? Some obvious, (and not so obvious) spots could be collecting epic amounts of gunk, grime, and bacteria. Here are 10 of the biggest dirt and germ magnets in your home and the best way to clean them.

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Dryer lint trap :

Do you use dryer sheets? If so, simply pulling the lint out of the trap every couple of loads isn’t enough. Dryer sheets are covered with a silicone based film that can build up on the lint trap filter and create an invisible barrier. WASH it every six months to improve performance of your dryer and increase its life span. Just use warm soapy water and a cleaning tooth brush, let it dry over night. Vacuuming the lint trap is also important to remove any lint stuck in the trap which could be a fire hazard.

Inside the dish washer:

Why would something that gets washed out with soap and hot water need to be cleaned? Well, tiny bits of food, grease and soap scum can cling together and get deposited in the corners of the dish washer. As time passes, they can make your dish washer look and smell bad, while also decreasing its working order. You can deodorize and santitize the entire appliance by sprinkling a cup of baking soda on the bottom of the empty dishwasher and let it sit over night. The next morning add a cup of vinegar to the dishwasher and run it on the hottest cycle possible. It will be clean and odor free.

Refrigerator coils:

Spending just 15 minutes every 6 months cleaning your refrigerator coils can eliminate 70% of refrigerator malfunction, extend the life span, and keep it running at maximum efficiency. When dirt and dust clog the coils they cant release heat properly, causing it to work harder then it should. Take a vacuum cleaner brush attachment, run it long the coils to remove dust. Remember to unplug the fridge first before doing this.

kitchen sink:

Studies show there is more e coli in a kitchen sink then in the toilet after you flush it. Not so appetizing, right? Bacteria love its wet atmosphere and feeding on food particles left on dirty dishes and put down the drain. Clean the sink basin daily with a disinfectant made for the kitchen to kill all the bad stuff.

The trash can:

Traces of food and liquids can escape the trash bag and contaminate the can itself. The inside of the cans lid is an especially likely culprit for bacteria, mold, and mildew. Use disinfecting wipes on the lid every time you take out the trash. And deep clean once a month. You can sprinkle baking soda on the bottom, let sit for 10 minutes, to deodorize the can.

Bed pillows:

Did you know an accumulation of dust mites and their waste can make a pillow double its weight in 2 years? (mattresses can double in 10 years) We may never sleep well again lol! In addition to the dead skin that rubs off, and the occasional drool stain, bed pillows no longer sound like a nice place to lay your head. The good news is that most are washable! And should be washed twice a year. To wash them, place 2 at a time in the wash. Use a gentle detergent and run through the heavy cycle. Dry on low heat heat with tennis or dryer balls until there is no moisture left to avoid mold.

Door knobs and light switches:

EVERYONE touches these almost every time they enter or exit a room. Making them one of the dirtiest places in your home. Start wiping them down with a disinfectant during your regular cleaning to stop the spread of germs. It will also help remove marks from dirt and grime.

Computer keyboard:

Dust, crumbs, grease and stickiness from who knows what can add up to one grimy keyboard. And do your kids use your computer? Imagine where those grubby little hands have been. Some studies show the keyboard has more bacteria then a toilet seat. To clean, start with compressed air which will dislodge the crumbs and hairs from inbetween the keys. Follow with electronic spray, tech wipe or good old rubbing alcohol.

The cell phone:

Each square inch of your cell phone has about 25,000 germs making it dirtier then your pets food dish, a shoes sole, and of course, a toilet seat. To clean your smart phone with out damaging it, all you need is some antiseptic wipes which can be found at any drug store and are individually packaged, making it easy to toss one in a purse or laptop bag.

The remote control:

You may have heard that the remote control in a typical hotel room is disgusting, but the one in your home isn’t any better. People are constantly handling it – often while coughing and sneezing – making it one of the germiest house hold surfaces. The most efficient way to clean the remote is to use the same wipes as for the cell phones.

So there you have it! 10 things we seldom clean, or clean enough. BUT…. you now have the know how and the what to – to get it done.

As usual, HAPPY CLEANING!

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As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, All spaces present design challenges. Some people are just born with and eye for decorating and design. Others learn the skill and are able to use it successfully. And then, there are those of us who lack the ideas for design. But a few basic techniques can go a long way.

These rules and principles are easy enough that any one can use them. Your home might not look like it belongs on HGTV, but it will look presentable.

Something to consider, before going into the 7 tips I have for you. Set the tone at the front door! Follow the rule of odd numbers, (rule of 3’s) Odd numbers are a foundation that can create harmony and visual interest. It helps to have groupings of objects in varying sizes, shapes and textures.

Here are the 7 tips that will help make your home amazing.

1.- Bring on the plants! We don’t just crave nature, we are happier and healthier when it is a part of our lives. Plants can improve your indoor air quality. And can improve productivity by 15%! They are also beautiful peices or decor.

15 plants that purify the home.

• 1. Peace lily
• 2. Rubber plant
• 3. English Ivy
• 4. Snake plant
• 5. bamboo palm
• 6. Aloe vera
• 7. Dunb cane
• 8. Heart leaf philodenron
• 9. Spider plant
• 10. Corn stalk dracaena
• 11. Chinese evergreen
• 12 money bonsai
• 13. Devils ivy
• 14. Boston fern
• 15. weeping fig

2- Pair low ceilings with high furniture. Many people have low ceilings in their home. But higher furniture will make the look higher.

3- Get creative with your lighting. lighting for your home is important. This includes natural light, ambient light, and task lighting. Balancing the lighting will help minimize shadow and glare. As well as add depth. Choose lamps that speak your personality!

4- Challenge yourself to go beyond beige. It can be temping to stick with a neutral color base. But you should decorate your home to be as colorful as you are. So throw in that slightly bolder color, as long as it makes you happy.

5- Design a way that promotes conversation. New trends show non tradtitional sofa shapes that are designed for conversation and hosting. Rather than focused on TV. Curved sofas add an element that promotes conversation. If this isn’t an option for your space, try putting chairs and sofas facing each other rather then the TV.

6- Fill your walls with your favorite art. It is an AMAZING design tool. It totally transforms the room. Play with color and style, while choosing pieces that can be focal points.

7- Incorporate meaningful souvenirs. When it comes to art, don’t limit yourself to just the walls. Think about throw blankets, pillows, vases, small scultpures, or whatever else speaks to you.

Happy designing!!