When it comes to looking for a safe environment for your family, that includes your furry friends as well! Here are some tips to keep in mind to make sure your neighborhood is perfect for your pets!

Proximity to a vet

Before you settle down in the home of your dreams, it’s important to make sure that any amenities your pets may need are readily available–a vet being one of them–should definitely be a top priority. In an emergency situation, the last thing you want to be is far away for medical care. Check out local veterinary facilities to ensure you like the practice and feel comfortable with the distance from your potential home. It’s also important to have a food distributor and or a groomer close by as well.

Pet friendly shops

Look out for signs in stores that say Pets Allowed, restaurants that leave water bowls outside, or shops that have treats at the register. Noticing small gestures that benefit animals in the community is a good sign you are in an area where you and your pets are openly invited to be a part of.

Use this quick and easy cleaning schedule to stay on top of your household cleaning, and to keep track of the various tasks that should be done daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonally. Before you know it, your housework will run like clockwork!

Daily

• Make your bed.
• Sweep the floors.
• Take out the trash.
• Do one load of laundry.
• Put away any stray items.
• Empty and load the dishwasher.
• Wipe down the countertops and sinks.

There is truth to the saying, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”—and the same philosophy applies to your home. Whether you are in the market to sell your house or are just looking for a spring refresh, curb appeal can go a long way toward increasing your home’s overall appeal.

Refresh the front door
If you haven’t paid much attention to your door lately, consider a fresh coat of paint. And don’t be afraid of a bright pop of color.

Go green
Adding plants and flowers can be an easy way to add pops of color to the exterior of your home. Consider a variety of flowers in coordinating colors, or pick up ready-made arrangements for a quick fix.

Update hardware 
Modern hardware—whether on your front door, garage, or mailbox—can help bring your home into the twenty-first century.

Upgrade house numbers 
Choose numbers in a modern font with a finish that matches your other exterior hardware (light fixtures, door knocker, etc.), keeping size in mind.

Out with the old
Replacing or painting your old, worn-out mailbox can make a tremendous difference in your home’s curb appeal. Also, pay close attention to the base, and consider adding some flowers.

Don’t lose potential buyers due to any flaws or unsightliness on the exterior of your home. Use the tips below to wow people at the curb and get them in the door! The best part is, you don’t have to spend a fortune or break your back to boost your home’s curb appeal.

Apply a fresh coat of paint.
Exteriors can face some harsh conditions. Depending on your location, wind, rain, snow, intense sun, and extreme temperatures can take their toll. But a little paint is usually all it takes to have your house looking like new again. Sometimes, you don’t even have to repaint the whole exterior. Adding a splash of color to the front door, shutters, or other areas can really make a house pop.

Swap out or revitalize front door fixtures.
The front door is the natural focal point of every house, so even seemingly small details can make a big difference. For example, a unique door knocker or gleaming, freshly polished hardware can be a simple way to make it stand out.

Hide unsightly features.
Even the most attractive homes have features that are better off hidden. Lattice is a great way to keep trash cans and air conditioning units out of sight. Or, if you prefer not adding another structure, you could plant a row of shrubs or trees instead.

For electrical boxes, water meters, and other fixtures attached to the house, adjusting the color to match your walls can act as camouflage. It won’t be completely out of sight, but it won’t draw unnecessary attention, either. And you won’t obstruct access.

Pressure wash decks, patios, and walkways.
If you don’t own a pressure washer, you can usually rent one from your local home improvement store. In just a few minutes you can spray away years of muck and grime buildup from wood, stone, and brick surfaces. You may be surprised by just how much of a difference you’ll see.

Plant some flora and fauna.
This one is an obvious suggestion, but it’s still one of the most effective ways to add curb appeal. It’s also one of the most versatile. Plants and flowers can add color, create a focal point in the yard, direct the eyes to the front of the house, conceal unsightly features, and even make use of spaces that may otherwise be wasted.

These simple upgrades are among the best investments you can make when selling your home. For a few hundred dollars or less, boosting your curb appeal could result in more potential buyers and potentially extra money in your pocket.

If you have a passion for gardening and you want to pass that passion on to your little ones, it’s not that challenging to instill an interest in the natural world.

Kids are naturally fascinated by the earth and all its living parts, so if you start with these simple tips, you can grow lifelong gardeners with the same green thumb as yourself.

Cater to their interests

If your child is interested in wildlife, consider planting shrubs or flowers that attract butterflies and other harmless insects, just be sure these plants don’t also attract other critters that could pose a threat to the rest of your garden. You can even encourage little ones to keep track of how many different bugs they can find in a journal, practice drawing the insects, and looking up information on the species.

Be mindful of little hands

Depending on their age, some kids might find it difficult to complete certain tasks in the garden, like digging or carrying a water can back and forth to keep plants hydrated. Invest in kid-friendly gardening tools, which you can find at most hardware stores, and make sure plants are easily accessible for kids.

Show how they grow

Vegetables are notoriously detested by little palates, but by showing kids how their food grows, they might be more inclined to want to eat it. Plant healthy veggies like carrots, cucumber, and peppers, and have your child monitor the plants as they go from tiny seeds to the food they see on their plate for dinner.

Teach responsibility

Help kids take responsibility for the health of a particular plant or flower in your garden. Explain the gardening basics, like how much water the plant needs, when to water it, the type of soil it will thrive in, and let kids take the reins on keeping up with the tasks.

Make it a competition

No matter what you do, you’re likely to encounter a few weeds in your garden during peak growing season. Encourage little ones to help eliminate these pesky plants by turning weed pulling into a game. Explain why the weeds are bad and need to be rid of, and then see how many weeds your child can pull out in a set amount of time. Keep track of their weed pulling prowess, and at the end of gardening season, offer a prize for their job well done.

Getting kids interested in gardening isn’t all that hard, all it takes is stirring up their natural curiosity and they’ll be hooked!

So you’ve spent some time on Pinterest or other social media networks, and suddenly feel that you need to overhaul your life and become more organized. Every time you discover an aspect of your life that needs organization, you find yourself rushing out to buy something new to help yourself with the project.

Then, after a few weeks, the inspiration fades away, and you end up back where you started. If this sounds familiar to you, it’s okay; it happens to the best of us.

Fortunately, being organized is not a personality trait; it’s a skill set. You just need to have the will to accomplish your goals and a few tips from someone who has been there. If you’re ready to be organized for the long term, here is what you’ll need to know:

Know yourself
Be honest when identifying your biggest problem areas, and know what your goals are before getting started. Most importantly, prioritize your goals based on which ones will have the most positive impact on your home, office, or life.

Being organized is not the goal
Don’t try to become organized for the sake of being organized or because your partner or colleague tells you that you should. Identify your own personal problems and priorities. Brainstorm (or write down) why each project is important to you and the benefits you’ll enjoy once the project is complete.

Expect hurdles and failures
The process of organizing a space has a tendency to uncover some hidden uses or storage needs that you weren’t aware of. This realization can force you to make some big adjustments or even start over. Organized people understand that their system of organization is not a commitment; they know when it’s not working, and that it’s okay to just start over.

Free your mind
Organized people don’t try to remember every item on their task list. Instead, they get their to-dos out of their heads and onto a list or calendar, so they never have to worry about dropping the ball. When you have a system and schedule in place, your mind is free to think about important problems, brainstorm a great idea, or even daydream.

Routines are the backbone of organization
Create a routine, and stick to it. This might take weeks, months, or even years—there is conflicting research on how long it actually takes to develop a habit. So to find the routine that works best, think of it as a work in progress. Start by identifying the repetitive or undesirable tasks, and incorporate them into a checklist with milestones. These small actions will eventually become more and more familiar; they’ll save you time by adding efficiency and eventually become habit.

Minimize
Have trouble letting things go? First, identify which of these common reasons is making you hold on to stuff: it’s sentimental; it was a gift; you think might need it some day; or it’s still in perfect condition. Ask yourself one simple question: Would I buy this again today if I didn’t have it? If the answer is no, then you should let it go. Remember that having less means less to clean, less to organize, and less mess—less really does mean more.

Have a place for everything, and everything in its place 

When deciding where to keep things, always consider where and how often you use each item. Store things where you use them, and don’t allow once-a-year items to eat up real estate that’s within arm’s reach.

Success is in the follow-through
Procrastination is the enemy of organization. Once you have a plan for an organization project, or even a small clean-up task, schedule it. If something is scheduled, make every effort to complete it on time.

Remember, being organized is a skill, and it takes practice. Sure, organization comes more easily to some people, but that doesn’t mean an organized life is impossible to achieve if it takes you a little while to get your feet wet.

If your home feels lived in and worn, then it may be time to implement some of these tips, which are sure to make your space feel like brand new again.

Deep clean the kitchen

A sparkling, shining kitchen is a great place to start if you want to take your home from drab to fab. Because appliances, floors, and countertops in this area receive so much use, this area in particular can benefit from a deep clean. Enjoy your kitchen again by giving it the care it deserves.

Spot clean windows

Sure, you clean the obvious surfaces—tabletops, mantels, bathroom counters— throughout your home on a semiweekly basis, but it’s those often overlooked spots where the grime can really add up, especially on the windows. Give your windows some love by regularly spot cleaning them using glass cleaner (or a damp microfiber cloth) to get rid of any marks or smudges.

Consider a decor switch-up 

The most obvious solution to making your home feel new? Change up your decor. You could make little adjustments in various rooms, or you could really go all out in one specific area. Anything from a new color palette to different accent pieces can elevate your space to brand-new status.

Don’t forget the exterior 

Take a good look at your yard … what kind of shape is it in? Perform any needed lawn maintenance tasks, or (depending on the season) at least make note of the areas that need some extra TLC in the warmer months.

Invest in certain areas 

How are the bathroom towels holding up? What about baking sheets, cutlery, small appliances, lampshades, and the like? Check these particular items (and similar ones) to see if any are in need of fixing, updating, or simply replacing. Keeping items like these in good condition is one way to ensure a spotless home that always feels like new.

Your home should be a place to relax in at the end of a long day. Keep this advice in mind for when it’s starting to feel anything but.