Having a set of tools can make simple repair jobs very easy to do. Being able to do the repair work yourself means you won’t have to pay anyone for a simple thing as hammering in a few nails or sanding off the drywall.

I do have a small toolbox. Although I only have a humble set of tools, I am able to maximize their use. I have a hammer, several screwdrivers, a wrench, a bunch of screws and nails, nuts and bolts, a saw. They aren’t much but they’re the basics. Those who have a complete set of tools may have band saw blades, too.

Maybe I should try to complete my toolbox, too?

by BlindsFirst design specialist Erica A.

In Feng Shui, the windows are known as the eyes of the home. They have a specific energy that is associated with being able to see your way clearly in life. It’s important that your windows are kept clean and clear, allowing for plenty of light during daylight hours while still keeping good privacy after dark.

Window blinds are a great way to enhance and affect the Feng Shui of a room. Just like with any other Feng Shui improvements, however, it’s important that the blinds you chose improve the interior décor of your home and harmonize with the general motif of your room. Good Feng Shui is never blatant or in your face but always subtle and in harmony with the surroundings. Here are a few tips on how to use window blinds to effectively enhance the Feng Shui in your room.

Blinds should always be made of natural fabrics. Hanging a natural fabric on your window will help to attract positive, healthy energy. Wood, for instance, is always a much better choice for window blinds than plastic derivatives and will affect the room’s Feng Shui much more positively. Make sure that your choice of material blends in well with the room’s décor.

Blinds that fold like an accordion are not generally recommended due to the sharp angles that they display when folded during daylight hours. These sharp angles tend to attract an energy quality that is sharper and less positive, therefore sharp, accordion-folded blinds should be avoided.

Any style of window blinds that you choose must be able to open and close smoothly with as little hassle as possible. Blinds that function smoothly allow freer circulation of positive chi. Any type of window blinds, however, will produce greater benefits than curtains. Cloth that hangs limply on either side of a window is usually considered to be terrible Feng Shui.

Different colored blinds have different meanings in Feng Shui. The mood and the chi in the room can be completely changed depending on the color of the window coverings in that room. Use yellow blinds for a refreshing and revitalizing air. Yellow is great for playrooms and kitchens. For the bedroom, use a shade of pink or green. Pink and green colors produce feelings of love and harmony. Green also evokes a calming effect that is perfect for resting.

Change the colors of your blinds as you cycle through the seasons of the year in order to keep the most advantageous effects. Changing your blinds’ colors in tune with the seasons keeps both the mood of the room and its chi vibes fresh. You can start with green in the spring, move to reddish and pinkish hues in the summertime, try out shades of white, off-white, and metallic during the fall, and finish up with any kind of bluish tint during wintertime.

Remember to always keep your blinds clean and free of dust and dirt. This will ensure that positive chi arrives in your room as fresh and clean as possible. Keep your blinds open during the day to allow positive energy to permeate into the room through the windows. It’s terrible luck, however, to keep the blinds open at night. When the day grows dark, close your blinds in order to make sure that the bad luck stays outside.

Some may overlook it, but having a sewing kit in your home is very important. What if a sock needs to be darned? What about long pants that need to be shortened? Or maybe you need to adjust your child’s costume for Halloween? In these situations, having a sewing kit or sewing basket is very handy.

Foldaway Sewing Box – With Sewing Supplies (Black)

Today, I would like to share with you the things you need to complete a sewing kit.

Sewing Kit Essentials

• Scissors. You need three kinds – a small one for cutting thread, a bent-handled one for cutting fabric and pinking shears for cutting edges so they will not ravel.
• Fasterners. Stock up on snaps, hooks and eyes in different sizes.
• Straight Pins. For pinning tasks. Also have several safety pins. Do not forget – having a pin cushion is important.
• Carpet thread. You will need this kind of thread if you have to sew on buttons on heavy materials. Do you know a good alternate for a carpet thread? Dental floss.
• Needles. What’s a sewing kit without a needle? Get them in different sizes. Don’t forget to protect your finger with a thimble. Having a hard time putting a thread through the needle? Get a needle threader.
• Spools of Thread. Get lots of thread in different colors.
• Tape Measure. Not only good for measuring in sewing, but in measuring the waistline as well. Haha.
• Tailor’s Chalk. This is needed to marking hems.
• Seam Binding. This is used when finishing hems.
• Woolen Yarns and Cotton Yarns. The former is used for mending sweaters while the latter is used for darning socks.
• Buttons. To replace lost buttons.

So that’s just about it. These little things that make up a sewing kit can do wonders during emergencies.

Gotta run. Have to read on Delafield Corporation tube bending for upcoming renovations here at home.

My son has lots of toys. A LOT of toys. The clutter used to drive me nuts, until I found out a very easy trick to keep myself sane – and the house clutter-free. I can’t believe how easy it is, really.

The secret? Toys are only allowed in one room of the house. If you have a separate play room/play area, all the toys should be in there. If you have a small house like me, toys are only allowed inside my son’s room.

I learned to say no to him when he brings his stuff into my room. I tell him to bring his toys back into his room. I remind him not to bring his toys in the living room either.

Keep your kids away from certain rooms like a craft room or even a home theater room (you wouldn’t want to ruin an expensive item such as a berkline home theater seating).

Keep your wits about you. Give your kids their own room to play in – in their own rooms, or a specific playroom or a sandbox in the yard. They can throw their stuff and clutter it as much as they want. But they have to keep it there. What happens in the play room, stays in the play room.

I like ties. I have lots of them, even if I don’t exactly wear them. My dad used to wear ties everyday when we was still working, and my mom was an expert in doing them. I can do ties, but not as good as my mom did.

Anyway today I’d like to share a video on how to do the Windsor knot, the most popular way of doing neckties.

Gum on your hair. Is there anything else more annoying? Fellow parents can sure relate when a gum finds its way on their kids’ hair in spite of constant vigilance and careful disposal of consumed gum. Aaargh.

A very playful little boy (ahem*myson*ahem) had an incident involving his hair and a friend’s gum. I never had the chance to ask how exactly the chewing gum ended on his hair, because he was so upset I had to do something immediately.

Removing chewing gum from your hair is easy! Read on.

How to Remove Chewing Gum on Hair

Removing gum that is stuck on your hair requires a very quick and easy two-step process. The things you need can also be found right in your own home!

What you need:

grab the peanut butter jar and a wide tooth comb

What to do:

1. Rub a liberal amount of peanut butter on the gum and the strands of hair around it. Don’t worry if the peanut butter is messy, it’s washable, right?
2. Using a wide-toothed comb, gently comb out the gum.
3. Shampoo hair and rinse.

Well, there we have it. The simple solution to removing chewing gum that is stuck on your hair – peanut butter and a comb – straight from your pantry and dresser.

Re-using bottles is a great practice. Not only can you save some money by just using a bottle that you already have instead of buying a new one, it is also very earth-friendly. You know, less trash.

However, there are times that even if you really wanted to reuse the bottle, there’s that lingering smell that’s not quite right.

So today, I’d like to share some tricks that will help get rid of those funny odors from your bottles. Strange smells be gone!

How to Remove Odor from Bottles

• To remove strange smells from bottles, you can put half a cup of vinegar. Let it sit for a few hours before rinsing with cold water.
• To clean a flask and remove funky odors, you can also try crushing an eggshell and dropping it into the flask. Add hot water. Shake the flask for a minute or two. Leave the eggshell to soak overnight. Rinse thoroughly the following day.
• Tea and coffee always leaves a lingering smell in bottles. To remove the odor or tea and coffee, put two tablespoons of soda bicarb and one cup of water in the bottle. Shake well. Leave the solution inside the bottle for ten minutes before rinsing with boiling water.

Hope these tips will help you get rid of those strange smells from your bottles. They’re very easy to do and the things you need are readily found in the pantry. So go ahead and try them. You might finally be able to use those empty bottles you’ve hidden for so long.

Photo credit: Dreamstime – Stock Photography and Free Images

A wrinkled outfit is a definite no-no especially when you are on a job search. Wearing a proper attire during job interviews is part of “putting your best foot forward”. A carefully picked outfit that is properly laundered and ironed is dressing up for success. Why? Because you, your clothing and how you carry yourself is the first thing that an interviewer will see.

Here are a few quick tips on ironing clothes.

Tips and Tricks on Ironing Clothes

• There is a difference between ironing and pressing. Ironing entails going over the entire clothing with long, smooth strokes. On the other hand, pressing is just lifting and lowering the iron with enough pressure on specific wrinkled areas.
• Ironing time can be cut in half. The trick is to iron only one side of of the clothing. No need to worry. You can iron both sides at once by putting an aluminum foil beneath the ironing board cover. The foil absorbs the heat and reflects it back up to the iron, working on your clothing double time.

The bedroom is the most private and personal space in the house. It is very rare that house owners would invite guests into this area. Its primary function is for sleeping and spending some “down time” alone. Therefore it is only fitting that a bedroom would be comfortable.

Here are some “must-haves” in order to keep the bedroom comfortable and enjoyable.

The Things You Need for a Comfortable Bedroom

• a bed with a firm mattress
• bed sheets
• huggable pillows (throw those saggy pillows away!)
• proper ventilation
• screened windows
• vanity dresser with mirror
• a desk with a study lamp / nightlamp
• a bookcase with your favorite books
• trash bin (gotta keep the room clean and clutter-free!)

The secret to a good night’s sleep is a comfortable bedroom. It doesn’t have to be luxuriously expensive, but it has to have the essentials.

Photo credit: Dreamstime

I love doing the laundry. By hand. I just love the soapy water, the soap suds, bubbles. Whee!

Kidding aside, washing by hand may be fun but it can be a chore, especially washing denim pants. How much heavier could they be? This is the reason why sometimes I love using a washing machine.

Today I would like to share with you some simple tricks on using your washing machine.

Washing Machine Usage Tricks

• Always be sure that your washing machine is well-maintained and cared for. See to it that parts such as plastic knobs, timers and rotators are working properly before you start doing your laundry.
• To clean your washing machine of soap deposits and scum, fill the tub with hot water. Add two cups of white vinegar into the water and run the machine for eight to ten minutes. Drain the machine and wipe it dry.
• Always close zippers before putting the clothes into the washing machine. Closing the zips will make sure that they will not get damaged or caught in the machine rotor.

I do hope you find these tips very helpful. Taking care of your washing machine and using it properly will ensure a longer life span of your appliance, saving you money from always buying a new one.

What about you? Do you have other tricks on using a washing machine? Share it with the community by commenting on this post or by emailing me at blog@mommymakeitbetter.com. I would be so happy to hear from you.