Massimi’s

Organizers at home are the best way to go when you want things in order. Most of the time, setting up a bin in the entryway for each member of the household is a good way to keep this busy space tidy. And with umbrellas, hats, and sunglasses near the door, leaving the house will no longer require last-minute searches. Use an existing wall-mounted coat rack to make this custom organizer. Drill a hole at the end of each of two 1×4-inch wooden rails to fit the coat rack pegs. Paint rails to match rack and let dry. Hang rails from pegs and attach evenly spaced wire baskets using screw hooks.

For a “softer” task, take a few minutes to tag linen-closet shelf edges, and you’ll save time whenever you take things out or put them away. The labels (you can buy label holders from paper-supply stores) might say “guest room”, “master bathroom”, “cocktail napkins”, “crib”, or “twin fitted”, depending on how your closet is arranged.

You can also label table napkins with the number of pieces in the set: wrap them loosely in cellophane or acid-free tissue, and then seal the package with a sticker stamped with the number.

Ain’t an organized home the best place to live in?!

Centerpieces are the focal points of any table arrangement. No matter how artfully plates and silverwares are arranged, or Chinas maybe, you are always directed to look at the centerpiece first. And just one wrong thing about one, it makes the arrangement in its entirety ruined.

Picking a centerpiece must suit the occasion. Votive candles or flower arrangements won’t go wrong in any table setting, whether it be for a formal gathering or just a typical meal get-together.
Make a simple arrangement. When it comes to displaying lush, dome-shaped blooms- dahlias, garden roses, gardenias, camellias, or the peonies- less is often more. Float a few big blossoms in a generous-sized bowl or single ones in smaller vessels. Cut the stems at a slant, about an inch below the bloom, just before floating in tepid water.

Make a creative centerpiece as a magnificent table can be fashioned with one (or several) of the simplest items: a cake stand. The pretty pedestals raise decorations and sweets high, elevating offerings in every sense. You can fashion small stands atop large ones. Show off pots (teacups and votive holders) of miniature African violets, for example, and stacks of cookies whose ribbons repeat the colors of the flowers. You’ll definitely be calling attention to yourself, as well, in a good way!

The term camp furniture may be a bit misleading. Take a look around any park picnic, backyard barbecue, or neighborhood block party- no tents in sight- and you’re likely to spot a few people relaxing in this wood-and-canvas furnishings. Lightweight and collapsible, yet sturdy and comfortable, they go wherever short-term seating is needed, then fold up neatly for easy transportation and storage.

Despite its workday reputation, camp furniture can be surprisingly stylish. Look for classic furnishings at camping-supply stores and neighborhood tag sales like a director’s chair, sling chair, or a camp stool.

Camp chairs with sling seats are ideal for lounging by the sea, especially when they have been updated with beach-worthy prints. Back a vintage state tablecloth, for example, with sturdy canvas. You can embellish a sling with a similarly printed fabric.

A customized camp stool makes for more than just a convenient seat. Artfully refurbished, it will function as a nifty side table in a sunroom or on a porch.

Or simply turn a camp cot into an elegant patio daybed. Throw pillows in coordinating colors provide a soft surface to lean against. Depending on your sewing skills, you may wish to enlist an upholsterer on this project.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy!

Afraid of mosquitoes visiting (much more residing!) in your homes? Then arm yourself with effective yet environment- and health-friendly repellents. Since mosquitoes can fly up to twenty miles from where they hatch, they will still likely find their way to your backyard. If reapplied continually, repellent sprays containing plant oils can be effective alternatives to products that use chemicals, such as DEET.

Citronella oil, which is extracted from citronella grass and is commonly found in candles, can also discourage mosquitoes. However, the candles’ effectiveness depends on wind direction and how close people are sitting to them.

Concentrated garlic spray which is available at garden centers, has become popular in recent years, as it has proved very adept at repelling mosquitoes over a large area, such as a garden or a backyard. Like repellent sprays and citronella, garlic acts on mosquitoes’ sensory capabilities, overwhelming them so the bugs can’t smell the carbon dioxide and lactic acid that attracts them to humans. Apply the spray to plants, trees, land lawns, and reapply periodically throughout the summer. Its strong smell dissipates in an hour or so, but the product will continue to work.

Never put your family’s health and safety at risk. Fight back against mosquito attacks!

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