ExoStorage

The Beauty of the YardMate 5 X 3

Just because you need to store your outdoor tools and equipment, doesn’t mean you need to settle for a bulky shed that creates an eyesore in your backyard! The YardMate 5 X 3 is a beautifully designed, as well as highly functioning shed for all your outdoor storage

YardMate 5 x 3

needs. This outdoor shed provides ample space for organizing tools, as well as keeping larger pieces of equipment like a lawn mower or weed eater safe from theft.

The beautiful off-white vinyl finish makes this YardMate shed a decorative addition to any backyard. Because this shed isn’t bulky, it won’t take up a lot of space in smaller yards. Its practical synthetic material is lightweight and easy to assemble, and each shed comes with a molded floor, so the foundation is built for you. Plus, the vinyl material won’t rot, or become moldy over time. This outdoor shed is built to weather the elements and will stand up against high winds, heavy snow, and strong hail. Protect your expensive outdoor equipment with the YardMate 5 X 3 shed, and beautify your backyard in the process.

The Two Moons Hoax test105

For the past 7 years or so, on August 27th, a huge hoax has been plaguing email victims by the thousands. This widely spread hoax is one where unsuspecting people on the internet are made to believe that every single August 27th, the red planet known as Mars will pass so close, that from earth, it will appear as if there is a second moon in the dark sky.

This widely spread hoax, which is typically spread via email, typically says that at 12:30 am anyone peering into the night sky should be able to see the red planet and the moon side by side. It is supposed that together they will be roughly the same size and right next to each other. It also says that Mars is only going to be thirty-four million miles away from our planet. This email is written in such good format that its almost impossible not to believe!

Nearly all of the astronomists say that if Mars actually did make an appearance, and was that close the human race would probably seize to exist. If any planet got that close to Earth it would greatly affect our orbit as well as our distance from the sun.

Garage Organization Made Easy

If you’re like most people, your garage is full of tools, equipment, and sporting gear in disarray and borderline mayhem. Not only does it waste time and effort each time you need to dig something out of your garage for use, but it is also a danger to have tools, nails, and other equipment lying around disorganized. Initially, organizing your garage will take time, but after-ward’s you will enjoy more space in your garage for important things…like your car. Firstly, organize your smaller tools and equipment. Store nails, screws, and miscellaneous belongings in mason jars, and create shelving in your garage for hammers, screwdrivers, and power tools. State of the art shelving options include pulley shelves, that are stored above your car, and lowered when you need something.

Define areas in your garage for “auto equipment” and “sporting goods” and maintain those areas for optimum organization. Truly consider what you already own, and whether or not you need to keep it, or can donate it to a worthy cause. If you haven’t used something in 6 months to 1 year, you can most likely live without it. Stop yourself from buying new tools and/or equipment until you truly consider whether or not it’s a necessity. Take time to create areas of organization and limit purchases to necessities to maintain organization in your garage.

Helping your Children Stay Organized

When children get older it becomes more difficult to maintain a level of organization in your home. Your child probably tears through their toys and games, and leaves game pieces and toys all over the floor. A cute game of dress up can quickly turn into a giant mess you may not have time to straighten up. Plus, by not staying organized, games and toys can quickly become lost or misplaced. Teaching children to value their belongings will instill a sense of pride, while saving you time and money you normally spend cleaning and purchasing new toys.

Turn cleaning up into a game. See who can straighten up their room the fastest, or who can stay the neatest. Be sure to provide a prize at the end to keep your children motivated. It is important to not over emphasis neatness to the point of being overbearing; after all, they are children and should have fun! By encouraging organization and neatness, and maintaining a level of fun, your children will take pride in taking care of their belongings.

Tips for Closet Storage

We all have one. That dreaded closet so packed with things that each time we open the closet door a barrage of items falls on top of us. Do away with disorganization and take some time to de-clutter your life. Closet storage should be convenient, not another mess to worry about. Take a day to go through your closet. Separate your belongings into things you use every day, things you never use, and things you are certain you will use again. BE REALISTIC. There are things in your closet you can surely donate, so don’t try to hoard all your belongings.

Once your items are separated into piles, donate the pile of things you will never use to a local charity. Then, invest in a few closet organizers with plenty of shelving and drawers. Store the things you use every day in the forefront of your closet, so you don’t have to dig through other belongings to find them. Organize these items by what they are, like sporting goods, or linens. With the pile of things you are certain you can’t live without, decide if they need to go back into your closet, or if they can be stored away for that notorious “someday.” Use your closets for storage and for convenience, not for another place to stash your junk.

The Rewarding Feeling of Painting the DYI Way

Do it yourself activities are often the most rewarding types. There is nothing more satisfying then executing a home project from start to finish, and reaping the benefits of your hard work. Painting a room in your house, is one such rewarding do it yourself project. If you’ve never painted a room yourself before, it is imperative that you have all the correct tools including large drop cloths, painting tape, plenty of paint trays and different size/shape brushes. Don’t try to paint around your wall outlets and light fixtures. Take the time to remove all wall outlets before you begin painting to ensure your do it yourself paint job is neat and accurate.

Tape off areas such as the ceiling and doorframes to ensure any painting mishaps are left on the removable tape, and not permanently on any moldings. It is also important to apply enough paint. Depending on the type of paint you purchase, you will need to apply one coat of primer, and two coats of paint. However, many paint brands come with a built in primer, allowing you to skip the first step. Ask your local paint shop, or home improvement store if you’re not sure. Once you’re done painting your room, allow it to dry completely (overnight if possible) before moving furniture back into the room. Then, sit back and enjoy your first do it yourself painting project.

Save Energy – Dry Clothes Outside

I can hear you sigh all the way from where you are as you read this. After all, who in their right mind wants to go back to the fifties and hang the clothes on a clothes line outside in the elements? The answer to that question might surprise you because there is a growing number of people who are going back to hanging clothes outside for a number of reasons.

1. Save energy; your clothes dryer is one of the largest energy drains on your household with few exceptions. We have cut about a quarter of our bill off the top from just eliminating the use of our dryer. On rainy days we use an indoor drying rack.
2. Save the environment; every little bit helps and any time you can eliminate throwing particles into the air, you are helping the environment.
3. Get Vitamin D; the best way to get this important vitamin is by exposing yourself to sunlight every day for about 15 minutes. Hanging clothes takes about that long so it gets you out of the house and into the sunlight.

If this doesn’t convince you to give it a try, maybe the fact that you meet your neighbors and it’s really a very inexpensive way to dry clothes will. Join the movement!

Are You Slowly Running Out of Outdoor Storage Space?

Every year there are products introduced into the world that every kid seems to need. Over the last few years a lot of these are geared towards getting kids back outside playing, which is fantastic! However, as these items are bought you have to have a place to store them other than your garage. That’s when an outdoor storage shed may be your best option and you can get these in kits so you can do it yourself.

One of the favorites is the plastic storage sheds. Once they are installed you hardly ever have to touch them again. They are made from a high end resin material that is virtually dent proof and never needs spraying for termites, bugs or any other wood infestation. Take a hose with a good nozzle and spray it off several times a year and you’re done. If for some reason you need it bigger, many of these have kits that you can buy to increase the size. The recommendation is to always buy more space than you think you needs but it’s a good option to have if you miss that mark right off the bat; a great alternative for outdoor storage.

Sprucing Up My Berm

When my wife and I bought our house nearly 3 years ago, we knew would have to fix up the berm in the backyard. However, in the years since, we hadn’t done anything with it. The rains slowly eroded the soil due to the lack of grass, and we found ourselves with a problem that needed to be fixed.

On May 2, 2010, a rain cloud proceeded to hover over Nashville, TN for over 24 hours. Even though our house is on high ground, our berm was overwhelmed by the rainfall. The first floor of our home began leaking, and we spent several hours sopping up incoming water. When the rain did stop, we had a problem that needed to be fixed immediately.

We spent several days installing a French Drain so our down spouts wouldn’t put so much water directly next to the house. The second part of the fix was to finally tackle beautifying the berm. By landscaping a bit, we could keep more of the water on the berm and away from the house.

My father-in-law is an engineer, so he devised a plan to shape the landscape and add some plants. He and my brother-in-law located some unused railroad ties, and used them to create 2 plant boxes. We planted a tree in each one, and added some smaller flowers on the outer edges of the boxes.

Next we added some bushes, junipers and flowers to fill out the remaining space on the berm. In time, the roots of the plants will take hold, and will prevent further erosion. We then covered the ground around the new plants with pine straw. The pine straw will cover the ground from the hot summer sun, and provide nutrients for the plants.

Now my wife and I have a terrific backyard that is perfect for outdoor parties and our own general enjoyment.

What It Means To Be A Man

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when thinking about being a man is fall into the trap of others expectations. To watch TV these days one would think men are either Neanderthals or idiots, of which the men I know are neither. The men I run with are intelligent, thoughtful, kindhearted, giving and fun. Do we drink beer? Yes we do and even smoke an occasional cigar. But we are also faithful to our wives, love our kids and grandkids, call our mothers and have great relationships. Where can you find that in the movies or on TV?

I have sons that help raise their kids and do chores along with babysitting and taking them to school and daycare. I have one that is faithful in paying his child support and would never think of missing it because he has borrowed money from me to make sure his son was taken care of when he was not able to make it that month. These are the things it means to be a man and there are far more of these guys around then one would think by reading the tabloids and watching the rich and famous.