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3 Simple DIY Basement Updates – and When to Call an Expert

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Basement updates don’t have to require all sorts of expertise. As a matter of fact, even if you don’t have a lot of skill in home renovations, you can probably do a few things that can help you with a basement update. However, there are also moments where you might need to call an expert. If you’re interested in getting the best possible experience with your basement and truly making it your own, here are three simple DIY basement updates, as well as a suggestion of when you may need to call an expert.

  1. Adding Basement Storage

Basement storage is a great way to make it easier for you to put things down in your basement. After all, which would you rather have: a basement where you just put boxes and boxes of unmarked items, or a basement where everything is put in the appropriate place? Consider getting items like basement shelves, plastic bins, and even closets.

When to Call an Expert: You can only add basement storage effectively if you can be reasonably sure that your basement isn’t going to flood. If you haven’t had someone install a basement sump pump, call an expert to add it to your basement.

  1. Improving Your Home’s Air Quality

Air quality oftentimes starts in the basement. You need to make sure that your basement’s air quality is as high as possible if you want to make the rest of your house have higher air quality. Add a basement dehumidifier to your basement so you can get a lot of the humidity out of the air for a better feeling.

When to Call an Expert: Although a basement dehumidifier can be immensely helpful for your basement, you also need to make sure you’re combatting any real problems at the source. That may mean getting an expert in to waterproof your basement before you add a dehumidifier.

  1. Installing Window Well Covers

Window wells allow you to have windows in your basement, which can totally open up the area and make it feel much larger than it is. However, they can also end up getting clogged with debris over time. Your best option will always be to install clear window well covers so you can see out, but debris can’t get in.

When to Call an Expert: If you’re worried that your window isn’t waterproof, you might want to request help from an expert before you install a window well cover. Windows that don’t have the appropriate basement waterproofing can be a great way for water to get in your basement.

Conclusion

There are many DIY basement updates that you can do to have a better basement; these are only a few of the options that you might want to consider. Remember, although you can do many of these on your own, there’s nothing wrong with requesting help from an expert. Many of the more difficult basement updates can absolutely benefit from an expert giving you a little bit of assistance.

Four Ways to Support Your Child’s Style Choices

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As your child gets older, it is natural that they will start to experiment with their personal style. This can be a really fun time for a child and is a period of their life that you should certainly be supporting them through.

There are a number of different ways that you can show your support as your child explores their personal style. If you are not sure how to best express this support, then the following four tips are for you!

1. Take Your Child Shopping

Taking your child shopping for clothes is a great way for you to bond over this part of their life.

When you are shopping together, refrain from making suggestions about what they should try on and let them make their own choices. You might find that they ask you for your help or your opinion but try to encourage independence during this process.

2. Talk About the Basics

If you consider yourself to be a stylish and fashionable person, then you can share some of your wisdom with your child.

There are some fashion rules that simply never change, so be sure to talk to your child about the timeless basics. This can be a helpful way to guide their clothing choices while also helping you to bond as a family.

You might find that your child does not want to take your advice or that they do not share the same opinions as you. This can be a great way to get to know more about each other’s preferences and ideas.

3. Look Online

Looking online for style ideas can be a fun activity for the two of you to do together. This does not always have to be for the sole purpose of buying new clothes and can just be a fun way to look at different fashion choices.

Checking out different brands, such as 8Ball Tees, will help your child show you what they really like.

If there are certain celebrities that your child looks up to, then you might find that these people influence the fashion choices that they make. Looking at these celebrities online together can be a simple way to understand more about these style choices.

4. Surprise Your Child

Surprising your child with a gift that matches their unique style is a great way to show your love and support.

When you pay attention to what your child is telling you about their style and fashion sense, then you will be able to make more informed decisions about the garments you should gift to them.

It will be a wonderful feeling if you buy an item of clothing for your child that they are excited to receive and want to wear often. On the other hand, if you buy a garment for your child and they are not excited about it, then do not be deterred. Ask your child what it is they do not like about it and take this feedback on board for next time.

You can return the unwanted item to the store together and allow your child to exchange it for a piece of clothing that they will enjoy wearing.

5 Privacy Trees for Your Backyard

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Trees are a beautiful asset to any yard. They increase the aesthetic of your property, attract local wildlife, and provide shade and coolness during the hot summer months. However, one thing they also can provide, which people don’t always think of, is privacy. Privacy is important to many people. You want your yard to be a safe space. You want you and your family to be able to enjoy your yard as you please. This is why many opt to plant privacy trees for backyard areas.

One other thing to consider is the type of privacy you desire in your yard. Is it from neighbors or bystanders or noise? Or is it primarily for protection from the weather? If it’s to lessen the noise in your yard, you’ll want to choose trees with dense branches and long needles. If you just want help in covering the view, you can choose skinnier trees.

Not sure what you’re looking for yet? Here are five privacy trees for your backyard to give you some ideas.

1. Emerald Arborvitae

Emerald arborvitae, also known by many as the emerald green thuja, is one of the most popular choices for privacy trees for backyard areas. These are evergreen trees. They’re extremely thick and grow in a pyramid shape. At full maturity, they can reach about 15 feet tall and 4 feet wide. They can survive in various soil conditions and are very resistant to both ice and frost.

For best results, these trees should be planted about two to three feet apart. They should be in an area of full to partial sunlight. Emerald arborvitae trees are great for yards that are medium in size, especially as they only grow six to nine inches per year.

2. Eastern Redcedar

If your property is large, consider planting eastern redcedar trees, as they provide a lot of protection and privacy. This is because they can reach heights of 60 feet and up to 20 feet in width. They are conifer trees, which means that they provide year-round protection for your backyard. In the winter, they block out the cold, strong wind. In the summer, they provide you and your family with shade from the hot sun. Additionally, they have a nice scent throughout the year, an earthly fragrance that adds to your yard’s beauty and comfort. They also attract local wildlife such as birds and smaller animals.

For ultimate privacy, be sure to plant these trees about 20 feet apart. They should also be planted away from any neighboring homes or power lines.

3. Flowering Dogwood Trees

At Mr. Tree, we have already shared with you what our favorite varieties of dogwood trees are. But when it comes to privacy, flowering dogwood trees should be the dogwood of choice. These trees will not only provide privacy for your yard but will give your yard lots of dazzling color too. The flowers come in red, pink, white, and more. These are smaller trees, only reaching a maximum height of about 25 feet. However, they also reach widths of 25 feet, which is why they’re great at keeping neighbors or onlookers from being able to see into your backyard. Plus, flowering dogwood trees attract insects and birds with the berries they grow.

For maximum quality, flowering dogwood trees should be planted 20 feet apart in an area that receives full to partial sunlight and in well-drained soil. A lot of people who plant flowering dogwoods as privacy trees for backyard areas strategically place these trees for spot coverage.

4. Spartan Juniper

If your backyard is on the smaller side, the spartan juniper is a great choice of privacy tree for you. They grow to only a height of 15 feet tall and a width of 5 feet. They provide thick branch cover, which is why they’re great choices to create a privacy fence and a great way to block harsh weather conditions.

For best results, these trees should be planted about five feet apart in an area that gets full sunlight more than six hours per day. They need to be planted in dry soil. It’s important not to overwater them, as that can cause root rot and other diseases. Spartan juniper trees should also not be pruned heavily, which is important to consider before choosing a location to plant them.

5. Leyland Cypress

Are you looking for privacy trees that will provide a lot of coverage in one large area? The Leyland cypress is an option for you. These trees reach heights of about 60 feet tall, meaning if you have a large backyard or a large house you’re looking to block, they’re perfect. They are also very fast-growing trees—many can reach heights of 50 feet in just 15 years.

Leyland cypress trees are a very popular choice for homes near the coast, as they have a strong tolerance for salt. They require full sunlight but don’t do well in climates that are too hot. This is because they have a shallow root system. This means they need to be planted in large, well-drained yards. However, when they’re planted in a row, they’re an impenetrable mass of branches. This means that they’re great protection from harsh weather conditions such as wind and rain, as well as from the view of others and noise.

As you can see, if you’re looking for privacy trees for backyard areas, there are many great choices out there for you. The above five are all wonderful options, but you need to figure out which one will work best in your yard and for your family. Considering the size of your yard and the size the trees can grow to is important. It’s also important to make sure the soil in your yard is appropriate for the tree. Otherwise, you run the risk of your tree not growing to its healthiest.

If you need help in choosing the privacy tree that’s right for you, give the arborists at Mr. Tree a call today. We are happy to help.

How to Stop Bad Lifestyle Habits Before they Start

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If you’ve ever tried to kick a bad habit, then you know just how difficult and stressful it can be to do so. Certain bad habits –– like smoking or eating junk food, for instance –– can be very addictive in addition to being very detrimental to your well-being. As such, it’s preferable to avoid these activities altogether. Stopping a bad habit before it becomes a part of your lifestyle can save you a ton of stress, frustration, and (often) money. To that end, today we’ll help you identify poor choices that can lead to dangerous behaviors so that you can prevent them from affecting your life. Check it out here:

Speak to a Doctor

Generally speaking, there are few things better for your health than scheduling regular trips to the doctor’s office. Doctors can help you identify potential problems before they affect your well-being. And they can help you get in touch with specialists to address specific issues. For example, if you suffer from bunion pain, your doctor may direct you to make an appointment with a clinic like Northwest Surgery Center for further assistance. Always keep in mind that in the fight for good health, your doctor is your best ally.

Develop a Routine

Many bad habits start during downtime. Idleness and boredom can lead even the healthiest of individuals to begin bad habits without even realizing it! If you’ve ever absent-mindedly ate an entire bag of chips while at work, then you know just how easy it can be to engage in unhealthy activities. That’s why it’s important to fill your day with a detailed and energizing routine. Give yourself something to do every hour. It’s much better to knock out a round of household chores than to spend 90 minutes scrolling through your social media feeds for no reason!

Partner Up

Like it or not, the people around you can have an impact on your own wellness. So it’s vital to surround yourself with individuals who encourage you to make healthy choices. After all, if your friends want to go to a bar, you’ll probably end up drinking. But if they want to go to the gym, you’ll be more likely to join them and squeeze in a quality workout. Plus, signing up for fitness classes or partnering up with a physical trainer will help you hold yourself accountable and spot poor lifestyle choices ASAP.

Conclusion

No matter what, most people have at least one bad habit they’d like to be rid of. Don’t beat yourself up if you suffer a wellness setback! Rather, maintain positive thoughts and do your best to become a healthier person day by day.

How to Help Your Child Avoid Bad Health Habits

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Bad habits don’t form overnight. Rather, they develop slowly over long periods of time. As such, it can be difficult to notice if you –– or someone in your family –– starts to fall into a bad health habit. Parents in particular are right to be concerned about their kids forming poor dietary and exercise patterns early in life. To prevent that from occurring, today we’ll explore how moms and dads can spot, stop, and reverse bad habits that could affect the health of their little ones. Check it out here:

Communicate

Communication is vital to every relationship. It should come as no surprise that one of the best ways to monitor the health and happiness of a child is to simply talk to them! While they may not be able to articulate everything that they notice or feel, they can certainly let you know if they think something’s wrong. Similarly, parents should have regular dialogue with teachers, babysitters, and other parents to make sure that their children aren’t building bad habits outside of the house.

Set a Good Example

Kids can tell when their parents aren’t being genuine with them. If you say to your child that a good night of sleep is very important, but you yourself often stay up late and fail to get quality rest, that message will be unlikely to carry much weight. This is why setting a good example for your kids is fundamental. Going on walks, eating healthy meals, visiting healthcare clinics like Northwest Surgery Center if you have a problem, and generally following wellness best practices on your own will help your child develop good habits as well. Children take cues from their parents constantly, so be sure to exemplify the habits you want them to follow.

Consult with a Professional

It’s impossible for even the most vigilant parents to identify every problem that could affect their child right away. Sometimes bad habits can form as a result of physical ailments or emotional distress. As a general rule, parents should schedule regular health checkups for their kids as often as needed. However, if you’re concerned about your child’s behavior for a specific reason, then it’s a good idea to consult with a medical expert.

Be Patient

Breaking a bad habit is tough. Getting a child to curtail a bad habit can be even more challenging. Parents must be patient and persistent though, to ensure the long-term health and happiness of their children. Your patience now will be hugely important for the development of your child –– remember that when things get tough!

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We left our home in Sydney, Australia many moons ago in May 2012 and, other than a brief stint back in Perth for Christmas and a wedding in early 2014, we have been travelling the world nomadically ever since, running a business from our laptops and we’re here to show you how to do it!