Home & Garden

A list of Universal Design new home features you should consider BEFORE building or remodeling your house. Plus reasons to consider “aging in place” in the home of your dreams! I encourage you to give these Universal Design principles a lot of thought before building or remodeling your house!

We bought 2 sets of down pillows from Hilton Hotels — because we LOVE the pillows every time we stay at a Hampton Inn hotel. But here’s a TIP… don’t buy them from Hampton Inn online. Buy them from Pacific Coast instead. They’re cheaper! Here’s what you need to know…

You know what a dirty bathtub ring looks like… Now imagine what that soap scum buildup is doing inside the jet plumbing of your bathroom jetted tub! Sure, you can clean the surface of the tub itself. But once you start the air jets, all kinds of nasty looking black specks will come floating to the surface if you don’t clean the jets, the nozzles, and the interior plumbing system too. (I know because it happened to me.) Those pipes behind your soaking tub with jets quickly become contaminated with infectious bacteria — some you can see, and some you can’t. Fortunately, cleaning the inside of your air tub’s pipes, jets, and nozzles is really easy! The hardest part is taking the time to do it on a regular basis — to prevent biofilm (nasty residue that forms around bacteria in your plumbing lines) from building up in the jets. Here’s how to properly clean a jetted tub and remove biofilm yourself in just a few quick steps. See how to make your own jetted tub cleaner and ones that are available in stores.

Looking for Furminator reviews? Or the best dog brush for shedding? I’ve found a pet brush that blows all the others away. The Furminator deShedding tool is my all-time favorite dog brush. I’ve been using the Furminator for dogs since 2008… and it still looks and works like new! Here’s my review of the Furminator dog brush.

The most energy-efficient, low-maintenance house siding options — according to a home siding expert. Here’s how to weigh your options before residing a house to improve the look, improve energy savings, and increase resale value.

Honestly, I’ve never been diligent about using reusable shopping bags — because most are just too small. And you still have to carry a ton of bags from the shopping cart to your car… and then from your car to your kitchen. But since I’ve had these 4 large Lotus Trolley Bags, I use them all the time! Grocery shopping has never been easier. Here’s why I like the Lotus reusable shopping cart bags so much and think you will too!

Does your dog like to play with water bottles or plastic 2-liter bottles?Mine does. Now there’s a REAL dog toy that is similar to a 2-liter bottle… but safer, and lots more fun for the dog. It’s called the Tug-A-Jug interactive toy for dogs. It a multi-sensory toy that dispenses treats as your dog plays with it.

Prefer using a DIY organizer rather than buying a product or gadget that does the same thing? These are some of the best ideas I’ve seen for getting organized without spending a dime! See my personal recommendations before trying each of these DIY organization ideas. These are the best repurposing tips to help you get organized… for FREE!

We own 16 Kong toys (2 dogs). While dogs can have hours of fun trying to get the goodies out of their Kong toys, CLEANING them isn’t quite so fun. Here’s the easiest way how to clean Kong toys… all my best tips for cleaning Kong dog toys when there’s food stuck inside!

How will your dog be spending Thanksgiving this year? Chances are, most of our four-legged friends will find themselves smack dab in the middle of the holiday festivities. And many will be on the prowl for turkey treats, table scraps, and dropped food particles! Here’s what dogs can and can’t eat on Thanksgiving day. Plus lots of fun ways to include your dog in the Thanksgiving feast — by making your own Thanksgiving food for dogs with these recipes OR by serving these one-of-a-kind dog-friendly Thanksgiving foods and treats that are now available in stores!

Can dogs eat turkey? Yes… but they might get an upset stomach. See which Thanksgiving dinner foods are safe for dogs, and which ones aren’t. Instead of giving your dog Thanksgiving turkey & all the fixin’s, try these easy homemade Thanksgiving dog treats — to avoid bloat & canine pancreatitis!

Planting a new tree in your yard? You can save money by doing the tree planting yourself… it’s easy! (I know because I just planted a new elm tree in my backyard myself.) See how to plant a tree step by step — in just 4 steps!

Looking for the best dog gifts for yourself or a fellow dog lover? Here are 30+ clever gifts for dog owners. Helpful dog Christmas gifts they’ll really use! I know, because I’ve had dogs all my life, and I actually use every single one of these items and my dogs like ’em too.

A list of acceptable household medications for pets, according to vets. Plus the correct doses for dogs & cats. Before giving your dog medications from your medicine cabinet, be sure to check this list of human medicine safe for dogs first!

Heard warnings about the downsides of using fabric softener and dryer sheets? There are so many opinions out there about whether or not you should use fabric softener. You might’ve heard it can stain your clothes, start a fire, cause buildup in your washer & dryer, scare away mice, ruin sportswear, soften hard water, and cause acne — among other things. It’s time to sort out the facts from the myths about fabric softeners and dryer sheets!

Water won’t drain from your dishwasher? There are 2 reasons for this: 1) Food is blocking the drain basket in the dishwasher tub. 2) Food is clogging the drain hose under the sink. See how I fixed my dishwasher myself… and you can too! Here’s how to fix a dishwasher that won’t drain water.

This isn’t the first time I’ve had to clean out all of the black gunk and slimy food debris from the dishwasher basket in the far back. The first time, I was able to fix the dishwasher not draining. THIS time, there was no water backing up… just a bunch of food and grime buildup which was making our dishwasher run poorly. Here’s how to clean a clogged dishwasher and remove the black gunk quickly & easily.

It can be difficult to outwit a smart dog that is determined to get into the garbage one way or another. These are the best dog proof trash cans (including DIY dog proof garbage cans!) and tips for keeping your dog out of the trash once and for all!

We have 3 dogs and 2 vehicles. I use the 3-in-1 iBuddy dog cargo cover / dog car hammock to protect the inside of our SUV from dog fur, dog drool, and dog toenail marks. See how I also use this dog seat protector as a cargo kennel — and why I love it!

As someone who works from home and spends a lot of time in my house — I LOVE receiving clever (and useful) home gifts. If you know someone who recently moved into a new house or someone who appreciates owning one-of-a-kind items… then you’ve come to the right place to find something special for them this year! I own most of these items myself and I know that your friends and family members are going to enjoy them too!

It wasn’t until I tried a Candleberry candle that I discovered just how ‘average’ most scented candles are! No joke. Candleberry is the only company I’ve found that makes scented candles that truly last… AND the scent fills the entire house!

Obviously, you wouldn’t want your dog to become ill or injured due to your own negligence. Your dog trusts you to keep them safe. Your best bet is to keep your dog indoors and away from the commotion on Halloween night — to prevent them from becoming frightened, anxious, or injured. Here are some ways to include your dog in Halloween, without stressing out your dog!

Wondering what the best long lasting dog chews are? Me too! So I did a big ‘ol experiment with my dogs to find the differences between all of the most popular dog chews. Antler dog chews rank way up there. So do real bones from the butcher… and cow hooves! See the entire list of 12 best dog chews that last the longest.

Need to replace a toilet seat? I just replaced three. Here are the choices and characteristics of toilet seats that might affect your decision when picking out a new toilet seat and lid.