Some of our friends enjoy DIY and home projects as much as we do! Here is one of friends, Katie, talking about how she re-landscaped her yard.

Whether you’ve moved into a home where the landscaping isn’t quite your style or you want to spruce up something you’ve done before, removing and recreating your yard can be easy and cost effective if you do it yourself.

Step 1: Remove old plants, bushes or trees

You will need to start with a blank canvas in order to add new foliage to your outdoor space. Removing small plants is easy to do by digging with a shovel and some gloves, but for larger trees and bushes, it will take a bit more work. Read more...

The truth is, nobody has ever really thought of me as Joe the Lumberjack. My experience with yard work has always been limited to raking leaves and mowing the lawn. When my wife and I purchased our first home, we were excited because the neighborhood is what we like to call “woodsy.” There are tall trees and bushes everywhere so even though our neighbors are relatively close in proximity, it seems as though each house is tucked away in its own small forest. Read more...

Owning a home is a great accomplishment but also a great responsibility. Whether your first home is ready for immediate move-in or in need of some extra TLC, there are tools of the trade that you need for those weekend warrior projects. This list outlines the top 15 tools for every first-time homeowner. (Don’t forget to check out our Craftsman Evolv 52pc Homeowner Tool Set Giveaway!) Read more...

Whitewashing furniture can easily and quickly be done. All you need are the right materials and the following tips:

Step One: Thoroughly Clean the Furniture

As wood is used, it accumulates all sorts of things–including oils, dust and stains. None of which is conducive to painting in any way, so you have to scour the wood as good as you can before you do anything else. The best cleaning solution for this job is vinegar; put some of it on a rag and wipe down the wood. If you apply enough effort and elbow grease as you are wiping, you should be able to remove all stains and blemishes, making the outside of the wood furniture as spotless as it can be. Read more...

Whether you are an experienced grilling chef or a first-time homeowner hosting your first cookout, these tips will help you grill your favorite foods to perfection!

If you are hosting a cookout this Memorial Day weekend, there are some basics that you should keep mind: Read more...

Vinyl is a great material to use for a long-lasting, great looking and eco-friendly fence. Although it will cost more than wood initially, it will not rot, mold or succumb to insect, animal or weather damage. That makes it cost effective; it will far outlast any wood fence. Two or more people can install a fence in a relatively short amount of time. There are a few steps you will need to follow. Read more...

Are you tired of the super smooth, polished look of new furniture? Do you have an older piece that you would like to look antiqued rather than just old? More and more people are discovering the joy of distressing their furniture, and you will discover that creating the right effect can give you a conversation piece that draws every eye. Remember that you should not go overboard, but try one or two of these techniques on a piece that you want to transform! Read more...

Despite the luxuries of owning a pool and portable hot tub, caring for them can seem like a daunting and exhausting prospect for those who have never taken care of one. In fact, many pool and spa owners would love to delegate all of their maintenance to a professional pool company or technician. Aside from being prohibitively expensive, it can be impractical to have someone handle every aspect of keeping your pool sparkling and ready to use. If you are ready to be a little more self reliant, here are five tips your pool guy won’t tell you. Read more...

According to my organizational behavior management class I took the first semester of graduate school, there are five steps you should always consider when making decisions. They are: define the problem/issue, define criteria, weigh criteria, set alternatives and make a final decision. When you are searching for a new place to live a student or even later on in life, these steps can come in handy to make the right decision for you at the time, especially if you are trying to stay within a budget.

After living in the same place for the past 3 years, I decided it was time to move to a more affordable apartment since I started my MBA degree. Below you will find a few helpful tips/steps on how to find the right apartment for you on a budget! Read more...

If your HVAC unit is not cooling, it could be due to any number of problems. An air conditioning unit – the “AC” in HVAC – is somewhat complicated, and there are a lot of things that can go wrong. If your home cooling system is not cooling as it should, it could be because... Read more...