How much ugly bare concrete is around your house?

My entire neighborhood was built with ugly, bare, grey concrete porches and front steps so I decided to do something about it.

I went searching for a concrete stain that came in many different colors so that I could complement the paint colors of my house, and I finally found a great product at Ace Hardware.

The product is called Mason’s Select Transparent Concrete Stain, and it comes in about 10 different colors.

My main paint color is olive green with a cream colored trim, so I chose the terra-cotta stain to complement the existing colors. There are many different color wheel websites online that you can use to match or complement existing colors, so use that to work with your own colors.

I taped off the area to stain, cleaned the concrete thoroughly, let it dry, and then applied the stain according to directions.

It came out looking fantastic, and I get complements and questions almost every day from neighbors, people driving or walking by, and just about everyone who sees the finished steps.

My house stands out due to the unique, finished look and the faux-finish type of look that the stain provides.

Make sure to get the clear sealant that is sold along with the stain because if you don’t seal the stain it will eventually start to flake off and will need to be retouched once in a while.

One gallon of stain costs about $35, and the sealant is about the same price, so for about $75 total you can completely transform the look of your home.

Post from: Clever Life Tips

Stain That Ugly Bare Concrete For a Professional Look

My 10 month old’s highchair was scratching up our Brazilian Cherry hardwood floors every time I moved him around during lunch and dinner time.

I tried lifting up as I moved his chair, but it would still ding the floor.

So, I went searching around the house for a solution and found some old furniture-moving felt pads that are used to slide sofas, tables, etc. across hardwood floors without damaging them.

I had 4 of them, so I put one over each foot of the highchair and they fit perfectly. Now, no part of the chair actually touches the wood floors and I can move it around without worrying about scratching up the hardwood.

I bought them at Home Depot, but you can probably find them just about anywhere. They’re gray, fuzzy like shag carpet, and about the size of a pancake. Sometimes they come packaged with 4 of the white smooth discs that you put under furniture to move it across carpeting.

Give them a try, and save some money in hardwood floor repairs…

Post from: Clever Life Tips

Baby’s Highchair Tearing Up Your Wood Floors?

Have you noticed that the grass in your lawn gets thinner each year while more and more weeds keep showing up?

There is an easy way to fix this and it’s called overseeding.

What the heck is overseeding? You simply buy a bag of grass seed at your local hardware store, core aerate your lawn, spread the seed, cover it with a light layer of compost, and then water twice a day until the seeds sprout. Once they sprout, you can cut back to watering once a day.

After about 4 weeks your lawn will be thick, green, and lush.

The core aerating is an important step — it helps get more water, nutrients and air down into the root zone of your lawn. It also helps remove some of the thatch layer that builds up over time.

The type of seed you buy should match your existing lawn or complement it. For example if your lawn is thin under your trees or in shady areas make sure you buy seed that does well in full shade. Are the areas in full sun burning up? You may need seed that thrives in high heat.

The type of compost you use is not really important. I’ve used sheep manure, steer manure, chicken manure, etc. The steer manure was only $1 per bag while the other two are $5 per bag, so I usually mix them together to get more coverage for a lower cost.

The increased thickness of your grass will force the weeds out and keep them out. The thicker and healthier the grass, the fewer weeds you will have.

Overseed early in the spring and again in the fall during cooler temperatures. Grass seed does better when it’s cooler and hates the high heat of mid-summer.

Post from: Clever Life Tips

The Easy Way to Get a Nice Thick Green Lawn

I’m constantly being told that my yard is the best looking yard on the block.

Why is that?

It’s not greener than the others. Everyone mows once per week. We all water on just about the same cycle. We all fertilize two or three times per year and aerate at the same times.

The answer is that mine just looks more “finished”, more professional.

The secret is in the edging work I do after I mow.

I have the normal gas-powered string trimmer that everyone else has, but my secret weapon is a rotating blade edging tool that swaps out with the string trimmer head so that I have two tools in one. The string trimmer gets all the curved edges, around the trees and drainpipes, etc. while the rotating blade makes a perfectly straight up-and-down cut along the sidewalks and driveway edges. The combination of these two tools gives you a professional look that leaves most people wondering how you managed to get such a perfect edge.

You can get the same setup I have at any big box store — the trimmer is about $110 and the edging attachment is about $60.

Of course, you can pay someone else to do all this for you — which is what I recommend if you don’t enjoy yard work like I do — as your time is precious and should be spent with family and friends rather than out in the yard…

Post from: Clever Life Tips

Anybody Can Mow a Lawn – The Secret is in the Edging and Trimming

So I have this expensive front-loading washer / dryer combo with the fancy drawers on the bottom. These things are awesome — they save water, they save energy, they look cool, all of the detergent, softener, bleach, etc. fits in the neat drawers — so what’s my problem?

The washer stinks!

For the first year or so everything was fine, but then I started to notice a heavy, musty, mildew-type of smell inside of the washer after not using it for a while. I also noticed the smell in our clean towels after drying off with them.

What is going on?

I did a search online and found that this is a very common problem with front-loading washing machines and also found a bunch of ways to help fix the problem. I’ve tried just about everything listed here, and the smell is almost gone now. Go through this list and see if any of these suggestions will help you:

1. Always leave the front door open when not using the machine — this allows air to circulate and helps slow the formation of mildew.
2. If you have an exhaust fan in your laundry room (like you do in your bathroom) make sure you run it when doing laundry. This helps keep the humidity levels down and fights mildew.
3. After all wash loads are done, make sure you dry off the rubber gasket located inside the door. Just use an old towel and dry off all the rubber surfaces you see.
4. Once or twice a month, run an empty cycle with the hottest water setting you have and some liquid bleach to clean your machine. Many machines have a self-clean setting just for this purpose.
5. READ your owner’s manual. Most people never look at the manual, and they miss out on some important information from the manufacturer. For instance, most manuals will tell you to follow the steps listed here!
6. If all else fails, you can try some of the cleaning products for front-end washers. I’ve heard good and bad stories about most of them, but the one that seems to have the most success in getting rid of the musty smell is Smelly Washer Cleaner.

Some people become so frustrated with the front-loading washer smell that they give up and go back to the old-style top loading machines. Just follow your basic maintenance tips and you won’t have to give up your cool new washer!

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My Front Load Washer Smells. What Should I Do?

When was the last time you contacted all of your previous customers to let them know about an upcoming promotion or special event?

If you answered “never” or “I don’t know how to do that” or “I don’t have a customer list” then you are at a massive disadvantage to your competitors. You MUST keep a current customer list that contains at least their name and email address — if you have and address and phone number as well then you get a gold star.

The easiest way to keep a customer list is to ask for a first name and email address with every transaction. Tell them you will notify them of upcoming specials and discounts and they will be more than happy to sign up. Use an autoresponder service (I recommend this one) to keep your list safe and to send out your emails to your customers.

Now that you have your customer list, you can use it to print money on demand.

Imagine this — you’re having a slow week and need to bring in some business before the end of the month…just sign in to your autoresponder service, write a short promotional email that gives a 20% discount to everyone that buys something from you on a certain day, click “send”, sit back and watch the customers pour in and the sales ring up. With a customer list you can make this happen over and over again whenever you want.

Do you see the power in this simple system?

Here’s what you need to do to get started:

1. Sign up for an autoresponder account and set it up as a customer list.
2. Collect the first name and email address of every paying customer and add them to your list.
3. Send out promotional emails.
4. Bank you extra profits.
5. Repeat as often as possible.

If you need help getting everything set up, contact me via the contact form on this site — I have a side business that will walk you through every step and get you set up on autopilot for only $5K.

Post from: Clever Life Tips

Do You Stay In Touch With Your Customers?

Today’s quick tip: Throw your toothbrush away right now…

Why?

If you’ve been using the same toothbrush for over two weeks it is filled with disgusting germs and bacteria that no amount of rinsing under the faucet can remove. Every time you use that dirty toothbrush, you put yourself at risk for all kinds of illness.

You should also throw out your toothbrush when you get sick — every time you brush your teeth you are just re-infecting yourself with whatever virus or bacteria caused you to get sick in the first place.

The next time you go to the store, go ahead and buy yourself ten new toothbrushes and keep them handy — your immune system will thank you!

Post from: Clever Life Tips

Throw Your Toothbrush Away!

For those considering outsourcing in their online business, the goal is to create a more profitable company while streamlining the owner’s work. Taking the time to avoid common outsourcing mistakes will make the process go much smoother and avoid the feeling that you are spinning your wheels and getting nowhere.  Or to quote Nicole Dean of www.OutsourceWeekly.com “You must plan your outsourcing wisely. Otherwise, you’re simply throwing money into the wind.”

As with any part of business, outsourcing has its good and bad points, however if you are aware of the potential problems before hand, you increase your chances of an enjoyable experience.

Here are 5 potential outsourcing mistakes every online business owner should be aware of, in order to avoid making them.

1. Not Knowing Who You Are Dealing With

Most business owners who outsource will tell you the biggest benefit of doing so is the fact that their assistants work remotely. The number one problem when it comes to outsourcing, though, is not thoroughly checking out the contractor or company who will be performing the work.  Keep in mind that sometimes this independence can work in the opposite direction if not taken seriously.  Make it a point to carefully interview the people you are considering working with before assigning a task or project to them. The person or company should be someone you can trust to represent your business.

2. Non-Communication between Owner & Assistant

Whether you are outsourcing tech support, writing, web design or something else, there is a great deal of effort needed in order to keep the lines of communication open.  If you allow your workers to do work for you without communicating your goals and what it is that you need, you will find that they your work will not be done as you’d hoped. Assistants are not mind-readers and do need guidance.  Take some time to make sure that you and the people you outsource to understand your expectations.  This is an important part of making sure that you get what you need.

3. Forgetting to Budget Wisely

In order for outsourcing to work properly, you’ll need to keep a good eye on what you are spending for the work being done. While some projects will require single payments to your assistant, others may involve recurring or retainer payments and you will more than likely have some type of contract or agreement that binds you. Some of your assistants may charge by the hour while others may invoice by project or expect payment based on a commission of some sort. Take the time to figure out how much money you can afford to spend on certain tasks and budget appropriately.

4. Under Utilizing Your Contractor & Their Resources

When you choose to outsource certain tasks, make certain you are using your assistant to their fullest capabilities and not just outsourcing for the sake of outsourcing or splitting up work between two assistants when it makes more sense to have one handle both jobs. Sometimes you can find freelancers who are willing to work on a recurring basis or who will complete larger projects at a reduced rate in order to get and keep your business. Don’t be afraid to ask potential contractors if they have room for more than just one or two jobs and don’t outsource something just to say that you’re on the outsourcing wagon.

5. Misunderstanding Your Role as the Outsourcer

As the one doing the outsourcing, you need to understand your role. In order for the relationship between business owner and assistant to flourish, you’ll want to keep the lines of communication not only open, but clear as well. Be detailed in what you expect from your help.  Also keep in mind that you are probably not their only client and as much as you would love to have them all to yourself, that probably isn’t the case. Be respectful of their time and give feedback on their work. This will help them do a better job and respect your time in return.

Making yourself aware of possible problems that often occur in the outsourcing relationship now allows your business to grow by leaps and bounds. Don’t be afraid to start your outsourcing journey, especially that you are now better prepared to do so.

Outsource? Of Course! Get started now at www.OutsourceWeekly.com

Post from: Clever Life Tips

How To Avoid Outsourcing Mistakes

How many yellow pages do you have stacked up on top of the refrigerator right now? OK — maybe you have them in the cabinet under the sink, but I bet you have at least 3 or 4 of them. I haven’t used one of those books in about six years, and you probably haven’t either.

I usually just throw them in the recycling bin, but I still wonder how much money and resources are being wasted by printing and delivering those books to everyone — even those who don’t want or use the damn things.

Do you know that there is an easy way to let the publishing companies know that you don’t want those big books dropped off to your house anymore? Just click here and fill out the form to get rid of them forever and help save the planet while you’re at it — being green was never so easy.

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Sick of Getting Yellow Pages Books?

Not Just For Brushing Teeth

Toothpaste can be used to wash strong odors off of your hands — even the smell of raw fish!

Toothpaste can also remove many clothing and shoe stains, remove tar and gum from the bottoms of bare feet, fill in nail holes in your walls prior to painting, clean chrome and silver, wipe off crayon marks from walls, clean jewelry, and even dry up pimples.

Who knew that tube of toothpaste in the bathroom was so versatile?

Of course, the plain white generic toothpaste works best for most of these applications — no need to spend extra money on gels, sparkles, whitening, tartar control, etc. — just buy the cheapest, plain toothpaste you can find.

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Unusual Uses For Toothpaste