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Family Activities – Tyre Recycling Projects

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Replacing your tyres leaves you with four old tires. Throwing or giving them away is one option, but there are other options, ones that are much more interesting and useful. If you’re the creative type, you’ll know exactly how to recycle your old tyres, but even if you aren’t, there are things you can make from tyres that don’t require any special skills. Plus, if you include your whole family in the project, you’ll get to spend quality time with your children while creating something together.

When and how to replace your tires

Replacing your tyres is the basic thing you need to do for your own and other people’s safety on the road. How often to replace them is determined by your driving habits and tyre maintenance, but also by the state of the roads. It’s important that you inspect the condition of your tyres at least once a month, checking the tread depth, looking out for uneven wear patterns, bulges or blisters on tyre sidewalls, lacerations, flat tyres or tread punctures. It would be best to replace all four tyres at the same time, since it’s important that they all match. You can find a great tyre dealer with a wide selection of premium tyres here. Make sure you go through the vehicle’s manual or talk to a professional before making a purchase, so that you’re properly informed of what exactly to buy. And as soon as you replace the old tyres with the new ones, the fun can begin. Here are some ideas for recycling tyres.

A dog bed

If you have a dog, use a tyre to make a bed for them. It’s an easy project and you can include your children by allowing them to paint and decorate the bed to their own liking. All you need is a used tyre, some paint and a cushion to place in the middle of the tyre, so that your dog is always soft and warm.

A tic-tac-toe table

This is another fun thing to do with your kids and for them at the same time. Use an old tyre, paint it the colour you and your children like and shape a wooden board to fit the centre of the tyre. Draw a hash and, instead of X’s and O’s, pick some stones of approximately the same size and use some paint to turn them into bees and ladybirds, or simply paint them two different colours. Let it dry and play a game or two with your little ones.

Garden chairs

These will go great with your new tic-tac-toe table. All you need are two (or more) tyres, two types of rope, glue and some patience. If your children help you with this one, pay extra attention to how they use the glue. You don’t want their delicate little hands glued to the tyre, or the rope at the end of the day.

Rocking chairs

Turning old tyres into little rocking chairs for your kids is a simple task, but a very rewarding one, since they’ll probably love them and spend a lot of time on them. Cut a tyre in half, paint it, cover it with a wooden plank and add a handlebar. Instead of a classic handlebar, you can turn it into an animal head, to make the rocking chair even more appealing to your children.

Tyre swings

You have an old tree in your backyard? Perfect. Find a stable branch and hang one or two old tyres on it using some rope. Of course, you get to decorate the tyres, or better yet, your children do. Make them nice and colourful, so that they make your kids cheerful as soon as they look at them. After only a few minutes on the swing, your child’s mood is bound to improve, so be prepared for some joyful giggles.

A sandbox

When it comes to this particular project, the bigger the tyre, the better. Paint it, find a nice place to it in your garden, fill it with sand, stick a parasol in the middle to protect your children from the sun, and that’s all. Let them bring their little shovels and other plastic tools for hours of carefree play.

A seesaw

This is a perfect project for families with two or more children. If you build a seesaw, two children can play on it at the same time, avoiding an argument over who wants to go first. Use half a tyre, a long wooden plank and two handholds for each end of the plank. Pick a colour, or pick as many as you want, sit back and relax while your children play.

Flower pots

There’s nothing as easy as turning used tyres into flower pots. Simply fill the centre of the tyre with some dirt and fertilizer and plant whatever you choose inside it. Leaving the tires black is an option, but why do that, when you can colour them, or even place them one on top of another to make a Minion, a frog, or even a well.

These recycling projects can be a lot of cost-free fun. They can turn your garden into a beautiful and fun place for your whole family. So, start today and make some wonderful memories in the process.

Five household expenses worth investing in

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When it comes to the home, it can seem like your list of jobs to do, and projects to fund is never-ending. While there are a few ways you can cut corners during a house refurb or update, there are some expenses that you don’t want to skimp on as investing in these purchases now may save you money in the future, make your house safer or add to the value should you choose to sell. To skimp on them now would be doing yourself a disservice.

Here are five household expenses you’d do well to invest in.

Double glazed windows

Installing double glazing in your home comes with a heavy price tag, but it also brings a host of benefits.

For one, you’ll see your utility bills drop dramatically once you’ve put in the extra panes, as your house will be far more energy efficient. Secondly, your home will be more secure as your doors and windows will be harder to penetrate from the outside. It is especially important if you’ve got a property on the ground floor. Another reason to invest in double glazing is the noise control. If you live in a busy neighborhood or near the main road, you’ll find much more peace and quiet with double paned glass.

Pest control

Now it’s not glamorous, or is it enjoyable to think about, but ensuring you pest control your home can save you big dollars in the long run. If left undetected, or untreated, pests such as ants, termites, roaches, wasps, and rodents can cause huge damage to your property. They can nibble away your building’s foundations and infrastructure, as well as cause harm to your family members. It’s certainly not worth taking the risk; if you suspect an infestation, get in touch with a specialist, like Go-Forth Pest Control of Raleigh, and get the problem sorted asap.

Landscaping your backyard

When summer rolls around, there’s nothing nicer than having a beautiful yard space to enjoy in the sunshine – the kids playing on the grass, long balmy evenings barbecuing with friends. Bliss!

However, have you ever considered the financial payoff of investing in your backyard? Hiring a landscape professional to spruce up your outdoor space can add significant value to the resale price of your property. A tidy garden will benefit you now, as well as in the future.

The Internet of Things

Wireless in-home sound systems, laundry machines that you can switch on when you’re out the house, tiny robots that clean up while you’re at work; yes, the Internet of Things is all the rage right now.

Beyond looking snazzy and futuristic, the greater control you’ll have over appliances in the home can save you money and make your home a little safer; if nothing else you’ll have fewer wires to trip over!

Don’t skimp! Save for the future

These are just some of the ways you can future-proof your home, adding security and saving (and earning) you money in the years to come.

Bringing The Outside In And Other Great Winter Decorating Tips

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With winter well and truly setting in throughout parts of Ireland and the UK, you will probably find that you keep trying to stay warm, even when indoors. This winter is packing a particularly powerful punch and with it comes dreams of warmer climes and spring weather. But what can you do in the meantime to make sure you create a warm and cosy atmosphere inside? Check out a couple of our top interior design tips for winter, some of which we have borrowed from Chill.ie and their great suggestions on home interior decorating tips for winter.

Bring The Outdoors In

One of the top trends this season is to bring the outdoors inside. This can be done in a number of ways, with small trees in the corners of your living spaces or dining room, pine cone accents on tables as decorative choices or by gathering up long twigs and sticks and propping them up in the corner, tied together with a pretty bow then accented with fairy lights, these are all awesome ways to bring the outdoors indoors and can help create a nature based cosy atmosphere, reminiscent of log cabins in the woods with snow all around.

Colour Blocking

Colour blocking is one of the easiest things you can do in a space to brighten it up and make it more cheery. Colour blocking includes selecting one or two colours and placing bold accents of said colours in places around the room in terms of throw blankets, artwork, cushions and rugs or lampshades. This can help bring some life and warmth into a space that is monochromatic or feeling a bit bland and dull. Which colours will you choose? Remember that cool colours can “cool off” a space while warm colours can “warm it up”. For those who don’t know, cool colours include shades of blues, greens, greys and violets while warm colours are those with red, yellow, orange and neutral tones.

Light Just Right

It’s no secret that lighting can make or break an atmosphere. If you’re going for cosy and warm, having lighting that is next to spotlight level can really take away from the ambience that you’re trying to create. Instead, stick with lower level lighting for those spaces you’re trying to warm up against those cold winter nights. Consider creating some unique decor by filling mason jars of different sizes with wads of battery operated fairy lights. This can create a lovely piece for a mantle or side table and looks fantastic in any space it’s in. Great for bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms or anywhere that you want to create a feeling of being cosy and at home.

So whether you want to spruce up a space for good, or you’re looking to bring in some bright colours to make it a warmer atmosphere over the winter months, these tips will get your home looking fantastic! Try out some easy to do changes today and revel at how different the space appears when you put in a bit of time and effort. You might be surprised at how little you need to actually do to make a space pop with warmth.

Must-Have Kitchen Appliances and Tools for Busy Parents

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As a parent, your life is extremely busy and there is no such thing as a quiet and relaxing day since kids keep you on the go at all times. What this means is that parents are always happy to find ways to make their day smoother, easier, and just more convenient overall. Because so much of our time is spent in the kitchen preparing meals, wouldn’t it be great if there were some kitchen appliances and tools designed to make life easier for busy parents?

Not to worry as that’s exactly what we’ll be covering here as we take a look at the top must-have kitchen appliances and tools for busy parents out there.

Garbage Disposal Unit

Kids are notorious for leaving all kinds of food on their plate after each snack and meal, so to make your life easy, it could be wise to invest in a garbage disposal unit. Using one of these will help to cut down on the amount of waste your family produces, as it takes all those leftover food items and makes short work of them.

While the 1 2 HP garbage disposal unit is a popular size for most kitchens, it’s a good idea to do a little research on what size unit would be best for your needs.

Food Blender

No matter how young or old your children may be, the food blender is another one of those must-have kitchen appliances. While your children are still very young, you’ll be able to make homemade baby food in the blender, which is healthier and more economical than store-bought food. With toddlers, you can hide all kinds of healthy ingredients in smoothies; and then as busy teens, those same smoothies can be packed full of their veggies and fruit for the whole day.

Blenders come in all sizes, price points, and with various blending pre-sets. Make sure you give thought to what you want it to be able to do beforehand so you know what features are important to you.

Slow Cooker

This is one of those kitchen appliances that you may not realize how important it is until you actually get one. Slow cookers can completely transform the way you prepare and cook your meals, massively cutting down the amount of work and effort on your part. Create delicious pasta, stews, chilis, roasts, and so much more.

As their name suggests, slow cookers work by slowing cooking your food over the span of six to eight hours at a low temperature. They create dishes that are fall-off-the-bone tender, which also means you don’t have to do much in terms of chopping and preparing in advance. Allow the slow cooker to break things apart naturally as it cooks.

Make Your Life Easier

Each of these kitchen appliances is sure to make your life as a busy parent much smoother and easier in the kitchen. When you spend less time in the kitchen preparing, cooking, and cleaning up after meals, it means you’ve got more time available for all the other things in your life.

4 Fun Stepping Stone Ideas For Your Family Friendly Garden

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Are you and your family planning a garden together? As you search for possible designs, think about including elements that add value to your kids. This could be an educational value or health value. Placing stepping stones throughout the garden gives you a great way to add an interesting design element. These three stepping stone ideas should get your gears turning!

1. Hopscotch

When you place stones in your garden, think about setting them in a way that gives your little ones a built-in hopscotch platform. You can use square or round rocks, embedded along the garden path and painted with bright numbers. Have them work towards the goal of reaching a water fountain in your garden which they can then toss a stone into as part of the game. This game will get your kids an excuse to play in the garden, and actively move around. Jumping has proven benefits to the lymphatic system.

2. Alphabet Stones

Place a winding path through your garden with the letters of the alphabet written on them. This is perfect for families with kids who are just learning to enjoy the magic that the alphabet has to offer. Your garden will become an interactive learning zone.

3. New Numbers Every Day

Use slate stepping stones, and keep the chalk handy. When you go out to the garden, you can draw numbers on the slate stones. You could also encourage your children to mark down the new numbers each day.

When you make playing with numbers into a game, rather than “work” children are more likely to find math enjoyable. Try writing simple arithmetic problems out on the stepping stones. On three four blank slates you could mark out “2+3 =”, and leave the fifth stone blank. This might become a fun, math related game for the family.

4. Playful Logs

If you have a source of wood around the house, try cutting disks from complete logs. Paint each piece with a bright, primary color. Place these above a pathway made of pebbles or small stones. These fun and playful stepping stones encourage kids to learn the colors. Children love jumping from one object to the next, and this gives them a safe place to play.

Many backyard gardens include intentional paths. This is because you don’t want to be stepping on your plants, yet you want to enjoy the environment you have created. Use your pathways in a way that is fun and exciting for the whole family. Create a hopscotch court, an alphabet trail, or a perfect place to write numbers and make math problems. Each design adds value to your family.

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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!