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An air mattress is one that you can use to put more visitors to bed in your home. An air mattress is comfortable to sleep on, and can hold up to three children or two adults comfortably. Many types of air mattresses are available for you to choose from, for the single type bed, or for the double bed. You can put an air mattress on floor in the living room, in the bedroom, and add additional people to your home with comfort and without a problem.

An air mattress is going to require enough space on the floor to be spread out, filled with air, and then it needs to be in an area that will be quiet and dark for someone to sleep on. Many times, when you get unexpected visitors you will find it difficult to ask them to sleep in a motel because it can be so expensive. Putting an air mattress on the floor is going to allow every one the peace of mind, and the ease of spending time together without having to pay a lot of money.

If you are going to stay somewhere else, and you are not sure if there is room for you to sleep in a bed, but you don’t want to sleep on the floor, take along an air mattress so you can sleep anywhere, in any room without having to pay a lot of money for a hotel or motel. If you are spending the night at your child’s house, or at a relative’s house that lives out of state, an air mattress is going to provide just what you need for a bit of comfort and peace of mind at the same time.

Where else can you use an air mattress? You can also put an air mattress to good use when you are out camping and you don’t want to sleep on the ground. If you are taking a long trip in the camper, you can use the air mattress to create additional sleeping areas for all types of people who are traveling with you with out having to stop for the night at a hotel.

When you are out at the drive in, and you are going to be watching movies all night long, the air mattress is going to be the perfect seat in the field, as you are comfortable and you can lie to watch the movie.

No matter where you are heading off to, an air mattress is going to give you the comforts of a bed, without having to actually have a bed. An air mattress can be folded up and stored in a small area, about the size of a large book. An air mattress is going to give you the sleep you need without an achy back.

Article written by Hilde Berge, Norway. More information at: http://www.air-mattress.biz

[tags]air mattress, best air matress, matress air[/tags]

The two most common home improvements are new kitchens and new bathrooms, for a variety of reasons. Few people replace their living room or bedroom regularly, but kitchens and bathrooms have so many fixtures and fittings that can quickly become dated, as there are constant advances in design.

When you’re improving a kitchen, you’re probably most interested in the decoration - function is important to some extent, but in the end kitchens work very similarly, and most modern fitted kitchens will have similar facilities. What you’re looking for is a kitchen that you like the look of, and that suits your style. Metallic kitchens are quite fashionable at the moment, and are worth taking a look at, but there’s nothing to say that you have to blindly follow fashion.

While bathroom improvements might seem similar at first glance (they are often sold in the same showrooms, after all), they tend to be much more about function than aesthetics. Yes, no-one wants an ugly bathroom, but most people who upgrade their bathrooms are doing it because they want a better bath or a better shower from a practical point of view. A popular improvement recently is to turn part of your bathroom into a shower room - it can be very nice if you have room, but don’t try to squeeze it into too tight a space.

Of course, plenty of people also embark on much larger home improvement projects, such as extensions (including conservatories). This might be to add a bigger or extra bedroom onto your house, or a home office, or simply to make your living room larger. As you can’t just buy extensions in a shop, you need to consult a professional architect and a builder first, but don’t worry - a good one will be willing to listen to your needs and ideas and make something unique and great for you.

John Gibb is the owner of Home-Improvement resources For more information on home improvements check out http://www.Home-Improvement-resource1k.Info

[tags]home,improvements, design[/tags]

My company makes four poster beds and I was talking to my mattress supplier the other day, a company that hand make high quality mattresses to any size. We were discussing mattresses, their lifespan, peoples’ attitudes towards them, and the differences between a high quality pocket sprung mattress and the new memory foam mattresses that are becoming increasingly popular.

A good quality pocket sprung mattress has a lifespan of five to seven years, no more. Not ten or twelve. (I am talking about a mattress used daily, not a mattress used occasionally in a guest room.) It should be turned regularly, once a week for the first month from new, then once a month after that, but in reality, they are lucky to be turned every six months. You must also remember that there are four ways to turn a mattress, not two. (Around 180 degrees, end for end, and completely turned over, then end for end again.) Traditional mattresses are made from materials that compress, and settle, they contain springs that compress under weight, and need to wear evenly, so by turning a mattress, you spread the wear over the whole mattress, evening it out, and not creating high spots, low spots, lumps and bumps.

Apparently the average adult perspires about half a pint of fluid every night. If you think that that is disgusting, then think about the dead skin that ends up in the mattress as well. I’m sure I don’t have to mention ‘bed bugs’ and the warm environment they have in a bed, with moisture and dead skin to feed from. Using a mattress protector, will stop everything filtering into your mattress. You want to be lying on something healthy for the next seven year. One of the best things to do on a regularly is to use a vacuum cleaner on both sides of the mattress. Please remember that a traditional mattress has moving parts, so they wear out.

The new alternative is the memory (visco-elastic) foam mattress. The idea is that you sink into the foam, it supports you evenly, and when you get off the foam will return to its former state, in truth, a traditional pocket sprung mattress should do a similar thing. The memory foam mattress is a sealed unit, so that moisture, dead skin and bed mites cannot penetrate. It will cost you more than a traditional mattress, but equally, it is usually guaranteed for more than twice as long, so is it expensive?

People confuse me when they are willing to spend thousands purchasing a comfortable car, but won’t do the same for a bed, when in reality, they spend about one third of their life in bed, far more than most drivers do in their cars. In my opinion, you should put the comfort from your mattress first. Don’t skimp on it. You should feel refreshed when you wake in the morning. You should bounce out of bed with a spring in your step (and that’s not because the mattress is falling apart).You should be ready to attack the day, and much of that comes from a good night’s sleep.

Research has shown that tossing and turning though the night is due to discomfort. We are moving around, trying to find a comfortable position. We do the same thing on an uncomfortable chair or sofa, but you notice it more because you are awake. You may ask your partner to lie still, or stop fidgeting, when it’s not their fault. Ask yourself these questions:

How old is the mattress?

How comfortable is it?
Does it give you good support?
Do you wake up with stiffness, aches or pains?
Do you sleep better in a bed other than your own, a hotel bed, for example?
What is it worth to get a good night’s sleep?

Your mattress must be comfortable. Your bed should envelope you. It should to fit you like a made to measure suit, or a quality silk shirt. When it is old, no longer comfortable and it’s had its day, scrap it. Don’t put it in the guest room. Don’t give it to your kids. If it’s not good enough for you, it’s not good enough for anyone else. Invest in feeling good, invest in a good night’s sleep, invest in a quality mattress. Remember, quality costs more, but last longer, you get what you pay for!

It is worth assessing your mattress and base a couple of times a year. Pop into your bed store and lie on a few beds, compare the feel and support with yours at home. If yours has lost its comfort, change it. Don’t put a sheet of board under the mattress. Remember, people change, the same mattress may not suit a 14 year old lad who had a new one when he was 10. Ask yourself if you sleep as well as you did a year ago.

So if you have the seven year itch, ask yourself why, and make sure that the bed bugs don’t bite!

You can see this, and other articles on www.fourposterbed.co.uk or www.elitesleep.com

We are happy for you to use these articles, if they are kept complete with working links, and the author is recognised.

Stephen Edwards has been making furniture for 25 years, and has settled into making four-poster beds, canopy beds, and traditional, oak country furniture.

[tags]four poster,bed,beds,mattress,traditional,canopy,oak,country,furniture[/tags]

Painting Your Bedroom is an inexpensive way to get a whole new look, however some people find it to be an overwhelming task to choose a color or type of paint. Many simply stare at the thousands of color swatches in the store and then walk away confused without ever picking out a color!

If you want to paint your bedroom, the first step is to select a range of colors or color theme. That way, when you go into the store you can narrow down your selection of color swatches to those in that general color shade.

If you want your bedroom to evoke a certain mood, some colors have shown to be better at evoking certain emotions or moods. Calming colors are soft colors - blues, greens, and lavenders in a muted shade. Anything too vivid or bright will not be calming. If you are decorating to have a calming effect these colors go quite well together. You could punch it up a bit with some brighter accents in the same colors but with a different tone. I like a sage green for the walls with some light sky blues and lavenders sprinkled around the rooms Bedding, wall coverings and flooring can be a solid color to keep the calm mood going. Accent with candles and perhaps a table top waterfall.

On the other hand, you might want to paint your bedroom so that it energizes. Maybe you want to wake up in the morning ready to go! Then you might want to try bright colors like reds and yellows with maybe a bit of orange thrown in. I love the look of deep red walls even if it may take several coats to cover! Yellow and orange make a nice color combination - maybe a bit 70’s so you could do a nice retro design with these colors. Tone it down a bit by using brown as an accent. Of course, you can always use red with black and white for a classically contemporary look. And there’s always a white room (bedding, walls, and floors) with bright red, yellow, blue and orange accents for a mid century feel that will liven up the place.

For a more elegant type of bedroom, you may opt for tans of off whites. These can match very well with some darker, rich colors like maroon, gold, or even black. Use some deep jewel tones to create a romantic but calming feeling. Gray and brown can be a nice modern color palette - use deep colors not light and you will be surprised how this can give the room a cozy feel that is a bit more modern.

Another choice you may have to make is if you want to use traditional paints or get an effect on your walls with special effect paints. You can add texture to your walls with paints that have texture build in, or use special paint to get the look of marble or old world plaster.
Some of these use solvent based glazes and others have specially made paint just for that particular look you want. A trip to your local Home Depot will find these paints as well as free classes on how to apply them.

Lee Dobbins writes for Bedroom Designs And Decoratins where you can find out more about bedroom decorating themes selecting paint for your bedroom.

[tags]interior design, interior decorating, decorating, paint, bedroom[/tags]

Are you looking for an easy way to completely transform the exterior of your home, vinyl siding is the best solution. Vinyl Siding is one of the best way to spruce up your home’s exterior. This simple home improvement can dramatically increase the value of your home. There are advantages to use vinyl siding are saving you money, better exterior and longevity.

Vinyl siding is a new concept in comparison with wood, composite, and aluminum siding in new construction.

Polyvinyl Chloride - PVC is used to make Vinyl siding

Vinyl Siding is almost maintenance-free due to its resilient nature. There is less environmental damage on Vinyl siding and it maintains a fresh look for years. It does not require painting as it is quiet tolerant to extreme environment.

A proper vinyl siding with good insulation can reduce heating bills. Some manufacturers of Vinyl Siding guarantee savings up to 20 percent. Vinyl siding waterproofs the home and saves you from damage due to water leak.

Vinyl siding does not fade easily hence requires less maintenance on your part. An overall appearance is maintained for longer duration. Vinyl siding is also resistant to rot, peel, dent, or show scratches. It means that you can enjoy a bright, clean-looking exterior every day for years. Exterior can be cleaned easily with water and other substances.

Several variety of styles and colors of vinyl siding is available in market. Some sidings are bold and modern; others can help you to design authentically original heritage designs. Available color range helps you to give a distinctive look of your property.

Using vinyl siding as a home improvement project can really add value to your home. It increases value to your home because buyer needs not to worry about maintenance, rotting wood, or any of the other hassles that come with alternative products. House with vinyl sidings is a choice of buyer. Many buyers specify that they want a home with vinyl siding, so installing vinyl siding possibly increases the value of your house.

Many manufacturers of vinyl siding offer a lifetime warranty on their product. Vinyl siding is easy to maintain and durable. This is an excellent commitment that shows the level of quality and performance of vinyl siding.

Vinyl siding is a great way to revamp old exteriors without having to replace them board-by-board. It helps you to save money, time and hassle in home improvement. Vinyl siding is a must for home improvement to enjoy the style and comfort.

Author enjoys interior design and he regularly publishes article on Home Improvement. Visit his site Home-Improvement for latest information.

[tags]Home Improvement[/tags]

You have many options when looking for a carpet cleaning method to use in your home. One of the options that is relatively new is the dry powder carpet cleaning method. It is a popular method but most people have no idea how it works or even if it works. This article will try to explain the process and the positive and negative characteristics of it.

In this process of carpet cleaning, a semi moist power is spread onto the carpeting. The powder which is soaked in a detergent and/or solvent solution is usually either a corn cob based organic powder or a fully synthetic powder. This powder is agitated and worked into the carpet with either an orbital floor machine with a round plastic bristle brush or a machine with counter rotating plastic brushes. The theory behind this method is that the powder acts like thousands of little sponges scrubbing and absorbing dirt from the carpet as it is agitated. After the powder dries, in only a few minutes, the carpet is vacuumed to remove the sponges and the floor is ready to be used.

The biggest positive characteristic of this method of cleaning is that it dries extremely quickly. Its drying time can be measured in minutes instead of hours. This means that you do not have to struggle to keep your kids and pets off of the carpet until it dries. You can put your home back to normal use almost immediately. Another benefit is that since the carpet is not being soaked with water, this method does not force spots down only for them to return hours or days later. What you see is what you get.
Dry powder cleaning does have some negative characteristics as well. For starters, the powder is usually not completely removed. The powder does not harm your carpet but the dry powder granules can stick to bare feet and can be a little bit of a nuisance. It is also not as aggressive as some other carpet cleaning methods. It is therefore best used on light to medium soil conditions.

That is pretty much all there is to this method. Hopefully this article has given you enough information to decide whether or not this it is for you.

The author of this article, James C operates a carpet cleaning resource website. Find cleaners offering Houston carpet cleaning, Colorado Springs carpet cleaning and cleaning in your town.

[tags]carpet cleaning, cleaners, flooring, carpeting, floors, home improvement, home repair. clean floor[/tags]

The origin of cookie jars began in Britain. First known as biscuit jars, their first use began at the end of the 18th century. These early cookie jars usually found in grocery stores were usually made of glass with metal lids. The more early types were cylinder shapes with floral or leaf painted decoration. It wasn’t until 1930 that stoneware became the predominant material for American cookie jars.

The first ceramic cookie jar was made at the Brush Pottery Company in Zanesville, Ohio. This green jar with the name “Cookies” on the front, started a trend in which the words “Brush U.S.A.” were marked on all of their jars. Since then (the 1930s), a variety of cookies were produced in different shapes and representing different intellectual characters. The most prominent period of cookie jar production was between 1940 and 1970.

From collectors styles with vintage coca cola type cookie jars to holiday types, a large selection of cookie jars are available for everyone in your life. With animal types illustrating pigs, bears, cows, roosters and cats, just to name a few, the wide variety of jars allow anyone to find one that fits their personal preferences.

Character type cookie jars are popular as well with Winnie the Pooh and Betty Boop styles. The continuing variations of jars allows for a collector’s aspect to the ceramics. With a large selection of jars, many have begun to create a collection of specific types of cookie jars. This fun aspect to collecting something different makes the cookie jar industry much more successful than once thought.

Popular cookie jar and kitchenware themes:

• Animals such as frog, rooster, cow, dog, cat, pig, bear, fish, tiger
• Characters such as Snoopy, Garfield, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Betty Boop, Muppets, The Flintstones and Scooby Doo
• Popular brands such as Coca Cola, Disney or Warner Bros.

For more information on collectible cookie jars and other kitchen accessories including salt and pepper shakers and cookie cutters visit Cookie Jars Etc

[tags]cookie,jars,jar,colelctible,kitchen,styles,characters,pop culture,betty boop,coca cola,collectors[/tags]

Your bedroom should be a place where you can get away from it all. Doing a
bedroom-decorating project adds to your individual taste and a key thought. Above
all things, you want it to be at ease. Think of your bedroom as a retreat, and let your
imagination go!

Quality linens not only look great, they feel wonderful too. The higher the thread
count, the more durable the fabric.

Painting is one of the easiest bedroom decorating ideas and most affordable ways to
transform your haven. Once your walls are painted, wallpaper borders are a simple
way to add attractive detail and integrate individual appearance.

Draperies and blinds provide some privacy, shy away from anything that’s too heavy
or overwhelming. Your floor and floor coverings aren’t just something you walk on.
They play a key role in your bedroom-decorating look, and feel of the room.

Most likely than in any other room as you’re more likely to look at it in here, your
bedroom ceiling is important. Whether you like natural woods, painted furnishings,
lacquer, or steel, try to choose bedroom decorating pieces that enhance the look
you’re trying to create.

This is an affordable way to light up your sense of style. Lighting can help create a
relaxing mood, when it’s soft and indirect. Here’s an area where your bedroom
decorating ideas and personal tastes and creativity can really come through. Select a
few pieces that you really love.

If you can walk into your bedroom and think, ‘I love this!’ you’ve done a great job.
Keep comfort and your personal tastes in mind, and you should end up with your
bedroom decorating project that’s wonderfully and restful.

Roger King is a successful author and publisher of http://www.1st-home-decor.com
Bedroom decorating tips and ideas to showcase your homes.

[tags]Bedroom decorating tips[/tags]

The holiday season is a wonderful opportunity to allow your children to help with the meal preparation and offers quality time together as a family. This is a way to keep your children occupied, but is also a fun, educational activity that incorporates a range of skills and senses, such as counting, measuring, reading, touching, listening, planning, smelling, tasting, and creativity. Baking teaches children useful skills and also makes them aware of potential hazards in the kitchen. Helping in the kitchen can increase confidence, as well as encourage children to try a broader range of foods. Children are more likely to try a new recipe if they have helped in the preparation of the meal.
Task allocation depends largely on the age and dexterity of the child, but there are some basic rules and tips that will make the process as safe and hassle-free as possible, remembering that children learn by observing and imitating adults. Basic Rules and Tips:

Teach children the basics of hygiene (e.g., washing hands) before beginning food preparation, and also between stages, to avoid cross-contamination.

To save time and small children’s frustration, be sure to cut and measure ingredients before the child begins to assist. Small children have short attention spans and may become impatient.

Give children quick, simple instructions, one at a time, and be prepared to repeat them if they do not understand or forget what they have been told.

Older children can be encouraged to read the recipe and help to measure out or weigh the ingredients.

Younger children can be involved in the mixing process by placing the ingredients in a jar with a secure lid and letting them shake the contents. This works particularly well with batters and salad dressings.

All ages can help with frosting and decorating holiday cookies or cupcakes. Use your favorite homemade recipes, or time saving box or frozen dough for simple sugar cookies and cakes. Decoration ideas include: colored sugars, cookie cutters, frosting, icing, candies, etc

Always explain the potential dangers in the kitchen and the protocol for safety. Such dangers include sharp knives, hot stoves and ovens, pans of boiling liquids and invisible germs.

Encourage the children to be involved in the cleaning-up process during and after the baking session is completed.

For children interested in creativity with decoration, let them make up some edible “play-dough”, which they can craft into colorful centerpieces or napkin holders. Or provide children with paper, and crayons or paints to create personalized place mats for each family member and dinner guest.

Adults make a mess when they are creating in the kitchen, so expect children to have even more mishaps.

Remember to remain calm and have a sense of adventure and humor!

Lisa Barnes is the owner of Petit Appetit, a cooking service devoted to babies and toddlers. Lisa teaches private and group cooking classes to parents throughout Northern California and is the author of The Petit Appetit Cookbook (Penguin, March 2005). Visit http://www.petitappetit.com for information.

[tags]children, kitchen, cooking, helping, holiday, teaching[/tags]

The groups of fishes commonly referred to as Cichlids, comprise a vast group of, generally larger and more aggressive fishes from Africa and South and Central America with a few species being found in Asia. They offer such a large variety of bright colors, shapes and habits that they have become one of the most popular fishes kept by hobbyist’s world wide.

Such is the diversity of species, breeding habits and feeding that it becomes necessary to set up different groups of Cichlids in different tanks. Some of these include African Cichlids, American Cichlids, Dwarf Cichlids or Discus. It is usually recommended that you keep these like minded fishes together and don’t mix them in general.

Selecting and Positioning Your Tank

Always try to choose a tank with the largest possible surface area and volume as most cichlids grow quite large. Make sure you always have a glass cover to stop your fish jumping out.

Position your new aquarium so that you avoid direct sunlight hitting the aquarium for too long as this can cause excessive algae problems.

Choosing Gravel, Decor and Setting Up

Cichlids are quite territorial and the more holes, refuges and interesting “zones” you can create make for a much harmonized community.

A good starting point is to place in your tank a background that can offer the realism and natural environment that these fish will feel very relaxed and unstressed in. Check out the cichlid mansion range from Aquarium + Reptile Rocks Inc if you want something extraordinary.

Next is the gravel we advise a fine blended gravel as too coarse a gravel size allows uneaten food and waste to accumulate in the pockets between pebbles away from water flow that break it down. There are several varieties to choose from. Clean your gravel in small quantities in a bucket. Three or four rinses should be sufficient. Place the cleaned gravel into your tank along with a little water.

Next to add some more “zones” you can add cleaned rocks and driftwood and position them. Triangulate your decorations to create a greater depth of field and provide an amphitheatre where the fish can congregate in a community setting. Try to slope your gravel slightly towards the rear and sides using rocks and logs to create tiers and depth. The lightweight rocks from A+RR Inc like quartz rocks, north head ridge, barnacle, rock pool and charred wood make this fun and easy to do. When you have the major decorations in place, add a little water, if this is a little dirty from the gravel siphon this dirty water out again into your bucket.

Next fill your tank. Avoid disturbing the gravel by using a plate or newspaper onto which you can direct the water flow. Some coral sand is a good addition to an African tank, while white Rift Lake Sand looks great for Africans also but can show up detritus badly. These aspects will be discussed further later.

Preparing your Tap Water

Next we must treat our tap water to remove harmful chlorine and ammonia. There are several products that will remove both, the best value is Amquel Instant water Detoxifier.

It is also necessary to replace electrolytes like, magnesium, and potassium making in tap water.

The electrolytic aquarium salts are essential to fishes well being. Not only provide an anti-bacterial effect, but help fishes produce body slime to protect themselves from infection and create an essential osmotic barrier so they do not dehydrate. Make sure it is dissolved before adding to your aquarium.

There are also several products we can use to specific water conditions for African and Discus. To calculate water volume: consider 10cm x 10cm x 10cm = 1 liter. So length (cm) x Width (cm) x Height (cm) divided by 1000 = Volume (liters).

Biological Filter Supplementation

The Best way to get crystal clear water is to pro-actively provide bacteria cultures as biological filter supplement. In our opinion WASTE CONTROL and CYCLE used in conjunction with one another or HBH TERMINITE are the best way to enhance your filtration and stay ahead of the game. People using these products simply do not encounter the same problems as people who take a minimalist approach (don’t use a filter supplement) and end up constantly reacting to problems. These bacteria cultures help convert all organic wastes to ammonia then further to nitrite and finally to nitrate. To establish your tanks bacteria populations can take several weeks but is accelerated greatly by adding supplements. Do not overstock your new aquarium during this run in period.

Filtration

All good filters provide ample filter media surface areas for the colonization of aerobic (oxygen breathing) denitrifying bacteria which break down fish waste. The greater the volume of the filter and the greater the flow rate, the bigger the population of bacteria to keep your tank clean. This is Biological filtration. All good filters should provide some sponge as Mechanical filtration. Chemical filtration is also important. We always use ammonia remover as a safeguard. Carbon is also beneficial but Purigen is superior. It is rechargeable and will also remove log stains from your tank (That is if you did not use the Charred wood from A+RR Inc). Remember to rinse loose particles out before adding to your filter.

Filter Types

Freshwater Trickle filters offer the most filtration for large seriously stocked tanks.

External Canister filers like the PRIME, EHEIM, FLUVAL or VIA AQUA are the best of the commercially available filters. They offer the largest volume of media and can be concealed from view. All these brands have a simple priming system and excellent taps to isolate water in the tubing while the filter is cleaned.

Hang On styles like the AQUACLEAR and AQUAONE are also very good. They possibly provide the best value if your budget does not permit an external canister. Simple fill the filter box with water and turn on. Water is pumped through the filter and gravity flows back into your tank.

Internal motorized filters like the CRYSTAL , RIO , and EIHEM are popular for smaller tanks or as a secondary filter for extra circulation in a large tank. Internals usually do not interfere with top glass or hoods. These can be placed under one of your lightweight rocks.

Air Operated filtration is often not sufficient for cichlids. We do highly recommend air bubbling in Cichlid tanks. Be sure to use a Check Valve so that water cannot flow back into your pump if power goes off.

If you have a Cichlid Mansions or Amazon background from A+RR Inc you can conceal a lot of the plumbing from view which makes for a very attractive set up.

Water Changing

Although nitrate (residual waste) is relatively harmless, the levels will accumulate and become dangerous if regular partial water changes are not performed to dilute nitrates. Cichlids are large fish that eat a lot, so nitrates accumulate quickly. PH is also pulled dangerously lower by organic waste accumulation. Therefore, no matter how good your filtration is, you still must water change regularly. We recommend a 1/3 -