With summer right around the corner, people are starting to spend their free time outside. Playing in the yard, grilling out, or just relaxing in the fresh air. This is the perfect time to start thinking about a mobile home deck. An attractive mobile home deck can add style and extra lounging space to your home.
 
Building your own mobile home deck doesn’t have to be hard, or expensive. It can even be done in 8 simple steps. Of course you’ll want to check with local zoning laws and your mobile home association before you begin building.
 
If you don’t want to take on such a large project, there are plenty of other front porch ideas, whether you have a front porch or not. Here are a few simple things you can do to jazz up the front of your home:
 
Potted plants – A large potted plant, either put by the steps or the front door can help to liven up the space. Using colorful pots or flowers help to add a pop of color to the area. They really help to define the space.
 
Furniture – Comfy chairs don’t have to be expensive. You can find some really great plastic or wicker furniture to spray paint in any color you want, and add an inexpensive cushion to make it comfortable.
 
Awnings and screens – If you already have a front porch, you can easily add an awning or screen to keep the sun and bugs away while you are lounging.
 
Hopefully these front porch ideas inspire you to get out there and make your outdoor space an area you’ll enjoy all summer long!
 

Mobile Home Decks and Other Front Porch Ideas

It’s easy to get discouraged when you are short on time or cash and trying to pull together a festive look for your home or event. Before you go racing off to the store and spend money, take a look around your home. With a little creativity you can create the look you want! You can also turn it into a family affair and get everyone to help! Here are 5 items you probably have laying around the house that can be put to good use!

 
Wooden Crates: You probably have some type of wooden create lying around collecting dust. You can fill them flowers or fruit to make a rustic centerpiece. Or use it to add height when pulling together a table. Depending on the size, you can store magazines or remotes in them. A small crate could be used as a basic soap dish and larger ones can create open shelving when stacked.

 
Cheese Graters/Tip Cans: Everyone seems to have a cheese grater, but they aren’t always used in everyday cooking. Why not put it over a candle and create a soft flickering light? If you don’t have a cheese grater, you can always take those tin cans out of the recycling bin and poke holes in them. Use a hammer and nail to randomly poke holes all around the can. Place it over a votive candle and voilà!

 
Nuts and Grains: When looking to spice up your décor, a great place to look is in the pantry. Whole nuts, rice, grains, coffee beans, cranberries, cinnamon sticks, popcorn and other dry goods make perfect fillers around a candle or layered in a vase for a dried arrangement. Fill bowls with these items to add a splash of color and perhaps even a nice smelling room.
Burlap: Maybe you have some burlap around from wrapping your shrubs on a cold night. If not you can usually get them from a local coffee shop for free. You can use them as a table clothe or cut into strips and weave a piece of wire through to make a ruffled wreath. You can also use them as a table runner or as placemats. The frayed edges will give it that rustic chic look. Another use could be to use it as matting in a picture frame.

 
Cake Stands: Not only can they be used to display those tasty homemade treats you make, it can also display other household items. Giving height to a table or mantle, you can place anything on them from potted plants to pillar candles. If you don’t have any cake stands, you can easily make them using a plate and a candlestick holder. That way you can spray paint them any color you want!

Decorating With Everyday Items

 
Cut your household utilities bill with a few simple tasks that will make your home more energy efficient.  Performing a DIY energy audit along with some energy efficient changes can start saving you money today!

Energy for lighting your home accounts for 10% of your electric bill.  Replace inefficient bulbs with compact florescent lamps (CFLs) or light emitting diodes (LEDs) and start saving immediately.
 
Other quick fixes include unplugging an item when it is not in use, keeping all air vents clear of obstructions such as rugs or furniture, and turning off lights when you can use the sunshine instead. You can also try washing dishes (with the water off) then rinse, rather than washing and rinsing with the water running the entire time.
 
Larger cost savings come with installing energy star appliances, programmable thermostats, low flush toilets, water saving showerheads and faucets.
 
Another large energy eater is a drafty home. Before we are hit with the heat of summer, save yourself from expensive air conditioning costs by sealing off air leaks in your home. Pay close attention to gaps along baseboards, exterior corners, outdoor water faucets and any other spots where two building materials meet.  Reducing drafts in a home will make it more comfortable and decrease your energy consumption anywhere from 5% to 30% per year.
 

DIY Energy Audit

 
April showers bring May flowers. May Day is celebrated in May with baskets or bouquets of flowers that are given to friends, family and neighbors. In celebration, here are a few fun flower facts!
 
• The spice saffron comes from the fall-flowering crocus.
• Flower vegetables include cauliflower, artichokes, and broccoli.
• The daisy’s name came about because the flower’s yellow center resembles the sun. It was called the “day’s eye,” which evolved over time into “daisy.”
• In 1986, Congress voted to make the rose the national flower of the United States.
• The rose family also includes pears, apples, cherries, plums, peaches, apricots and almonds.
• A rosebush growing at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Hildesheim, Germany, is thought to be the world’s oldest at more than 1,000 years.
• The earliest known flower is Archaefructus sinensis. Scientists discovered the fossilized flower in northeast China and believe it bloomed about 125 million years ago.
• Although dandelions are considered weeds, they are nutritious. The flowers and leaves are a good source of vitamins A and C, iron, calcium and potassium.
• Cut tulips will continue growing in a vase. They can grow up to another 3 inches.

May Flowers!

 
When it comes to mobile home skirting, there are many options to choose from. It can be made of everything from concrete to vinyl. You really have to base your mobile home skirting choice on the following: how much you are willing to spend, what look you are trying to achieve, durability, functionality, security, and the overall impact it will have on your mobile home’s value.

 
After answering these questions, you’ll be able to determine which type of skirting is right for your home. If you choose to install your skirting yourself, this will cut down on costs. Let’s go over a few tips on how to install skirting.
 
1. Measure your mobile home. There are 2 measurements you’ll need: length and height. Using a tape measure, start at a corner of the home. You may need someone to assist you.
2. Select the mobile home skirting materials. After you answering the above questions, you should have a good idea of the materials that you would like to select from your home. You can purchase the different materials at home improvement stores.
3. Transport the skirting supplies. At the very least you’ll need a pick-up truck to transport the materials. Some panels are heavier than others and may require additional lumber for framing. You may want to schedule a delivery with the store.
4. Assemble the skirting wall. Grade the ground and make it as level as possible. The method of installation will vary with different types of material.
5. Attach the inside top track to the underside of the mobile home with screws and a variable speed drill. The ground tracks can be held in place with re-bar stakes.
6. Use a table (or circular saw) to cut vinyl panels for height if necessary. Attach overlapping panels securely to inside track.
7. Secure the panels with outside top and bottom track, using a screw to secure in place. Use a level to ensure the wall is straight.
 
There are also many videos online with great tips on how to install skirting.

Mobile Home Skirting: How To Install Skirting

It may not feel like it, but it’s springtime in Michigan. You may be starting to see the perennials begining to bloom. Everything is new and growing. It’s time to get outside in the fresh air and have fun with your garden.

 
Here are a few tips to get your garden spring ready, and looking fresh!
 
1. Start inside: While you are waiting for that last frost of the season, you can start growing your seedlings inside. Plant them in egg cartons and other small planters , so that when it does warm up they’ll be ready to spread their roots outside.

 
2. Think outside the planter box: You can use virtually anything as a planter. We’ve all seen the wheel barrels and boots, but why not an old dresser or even a bathtub!

 
3. Rake it up: Raking the yard and the flower beds help to wake everything up. You want to pull away leaves and other debris you may have left as an extra layer of warmth for your perennials last fall.

 
4. Give those weeds the heave hoe: Weeds seem to be able to grow in any condition. Pulling weeds is easier when the ground is wet. Getting out there after a good rain will help. Or round up some neighborhood kids and pay them a nickel for every weed pulled.

 
We hope that these tips help you get your garden in order!
 

For more gardening tips, check out our pinterst board!
 

Ready, Set, Grow

It’s finally starting to feel like spring around here. The warmer weather brings longer days and sunshine-filled weekends! After the long, cold months of winter, the kids will be looking forward to getting outside and enjoying the fresh air! Here’s a list of the top five toys for outdoor fun that can keep the kids entertained for hours.
 

1. Kites: Kite flying is best done in large open areas such as a park or the beach, and if there is little wind, the kids will get plenty of exercise running around to keep their kites in the sky.
2. Bubbles and Bubble Wands: Blowing bubbles is a favorite for kids of all ages. Bubble wands come in all shapes and sizes for lots of fun!
3. Water Balloons: Split the kids into teams and give each team a different color of balloon. Let them battle it out by throwing balloons at the other teams. It’s a fun way to stay cool on a hot day.
4. Jump Ropes: Jumping rope is not only fun but also great exercise! Kids can compete to see who can jump rope longest, play games with friends like Double Dutch and practice special jumps like “double under,” and “toad!”
5. Butterfly Nets: Butterfly nets allow kids to safely catch butterflies and other flying insects without harming them. It can also be educational if you help them look up what they caught!

 
The best part is that all of these toys are inexpensive and can be found at your local dollar store!

5 Inexpensive Toys For Playing Outside

Earth Day is an annual day on which events are held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It’s observed on April 22nd each year. Earth day is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network and is celebrated in more than 192 countries every year.

Earth Day is for action! So what can you do this Earth Day to show your support? Lots! Plus while you help the earth, you can also save money!
This infographic shows different things that you can do not only on April 22nd but everyday!
 

Earth Day!

Now that tax day has come and gone, you can breathe easy until next year. Hopefully you got them done early and you didn’t have to stress at the last minute.
 
If you did your taxes early enough, you may already have your tax return back if you didn’t have to pay anything this year. So what to do with your refund? We have some ideas for you.
 
1. Pay off high interest debt – If you have any loans or credit cards, you want to pay those off as soon as you can. Paying more than you usually do every month with extra money from your tax return could help pay off those debts down faster and without extra interest.
 
2. Put it in your savings account – Or start one! Starting, or contributing to a savings account is like paying yourself. You’ll have that money to use at a later date on bigger ticket items.
 
3. Spend it on something you need – Has your car been acting up? Have you been putting off that pricey trip to the dentist? You need to take care of these essentials, and now that your refund is here, you can cover the cost.
 
4. Make Home Improvements – Need a new roof? Is your kitchen outdated? New energy-efficient appliances could help you save money on your utility bills. Plus, home improvement projects can immediately increase the value of your property and make your home more comfortable at the same time.
 
5. Splurge a little – If you have taken steps to put a little in savings, pay off some debt, there is nothing wrong with splurging a little! You’ve worked hard all year; why not get something nice for yourself!
 

5 Things To Do With Your tax Refund

 
As the saying goes, April showers bring May flowers. Those showers have been coming down hard and fast in Southeast Michigan. With recent flood watches happening all over the United States, it’s a good time to remind yourself about what you can do in case of a flood.

Before:
• Build an emergency kit and make a plan.
• Familiarize yourself with flood hazard terms like flood watch vs. flood warning.
 
During:
• Listen to a battery-operated radio for the latest storm information.
• Secure your home and turn off utilities at main switches.
• Do not attempt to walk across flowing streams or drive through flooded roadways or in flooded areas.
• If you’ve come in contact with floodwaters, wash your hands with soap and disinfected water.
 
After:
• Stay away from damaged areas unless you have assistance from rescue professionals.
• Avoid floodwater that could be contaminated by oil, gasoline or raw sewage.
• Listen to local news reports to learn whether water supplies are safe to drink.
• Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded. Roads may have been weakened and could collapse under the weight of a car.
 

What to do in Case of a Flood