Tuesday, November 22, 2016

5 Ways to Rejuvenate Your Backyard

Are you tired of the same old backyard that you've had for years? Are you ready to shake things up with new features, fresh accessories and one-of-a-kind design elements? Here are just a few things that will make your backyard pop!
    Gazebo
  1. Build a Gazebo
    Gazebos are a great way to add a touch of elegance to your backyard. Not only can you build the gazebo itself with any kind of shape, size, material or feature that you desire, but once it's finished, you'll also have a blast decorating it! From paint to pillows, the design is all up to you. Try building a gazebo if you're looking for a creative backyard endeavor.
  2. Put in a Pool
    When it comes to Jacksonville backyard water features, it's hard to beat the idea of a pool. Construct an elaborate infinity pool with steps, inclines and special water jets; inflate a simple above-ground pool for pets and kids; create something else entirely with a little water and a lot of imagination. Any kind of pool is a good pool, so don't be afraid to dream big.
  3. Install a Fire Pit fire pit
    There's nothing like sitting around a fire on a chilly evening to warm you up inside and out. While the large, ceremonial fire pits can cost a pretty penny, there are numerous designs for smaller and more intimate ones that can be installed in any backyard. Just ask your local contractor or outdoor design company for help!
  4. Add a Patio
    Patios are both functional and fashionable, so you'll get a lot of mileage when you add one to your yard. Not only are they great architectural elements that can add thousands of dollars of property value when it's time to resell your home, but they'll also be highly convenient until then as a place to host parties and gatherings.
  5. Plant a Garden
    Do you dream of a colorful, bountiful vegetable garden filled with fresh goodies of all shapes and sizes? Or maybe you'd prefer a quiet zen garden that you can treat as an oasis in the whirlwind of your life. Whatever your preferred aesthetic, every garden starts with a single flower, so grab your shovel and start digging.
There are many more ways to breathe new life into your backyard, so don't be limited by this list. Use it for inspiration and come up with some great ideas of your own.

Monday, November 21, 2016

More Missing Words

Recently I mentioned my frustration with those cryptic symbols on laundry tags, and while those may be annoying, I think I found something even more annoying.

This weekend my husband had to assemble something - something that most definitely needed to be done correctly.   And this is what the directions looked like:




No words. No explanations. Just a bunch of very helpful incredibly confusing pictures.  Thankfully he's pretty good at stuff so he got it figured out - except for those one things that we have no idea what they are so they didn't get put on.  Hopefully it's not a big deal...

Again - why can't they just use words? Along with the pictures.  The pictures might actually be helpful if there were some words to go along with them.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

4 Ways to Be a Better Web Designer

Easy Development of Web Design TemplatesAre you feeling uninspired with your current web designs? Do you need something to boost your creativity or kick-start your productivity? It's not uncommon to experience a slump, especially if you've been in the business for awhile; the key is to not let it defeat you. Here are just a few ways to become a better web designer.
  1. Get New Software
    The same way a Mastercam dealer can provide CAD/CAM software tools for all types of programming and machining needs, there are many different software packages for web design. New software may be exactly what you need to grease the wheels of your imagination. As a bonus, the right software will handle all of the boring automated stuff while you're free to let your creativity take flight.
  2. Experiment With Different Styles
    It's easy to fall into familiar patterns when you've been doing something for a long time. If you feel like your designs are becoming too boring or too similar, it's time to break out of your shell and try something new. Go crazy with colors; flip your typical layouts upside down and inside out; erase your old templates and start from scratch. You never know when you'll stumble onto your new trademark.
  3. Enforce Deadlines
    Have you ever noticed that your best ideas come at the eleventh hour? It's no coincidence; it's the way the human brain works. You can deliberately harness this energy by setting and enforcing self-imposed deadlines that force your mind to work under time constraints. Instead of being a free-willed artist, you'll be a disciplined one, and your work will improve because of it.
  4. Ask for Input
    Don't be afraid to ask others for feedback. It doesn't matter if you're soliciting the opinions of clients, friends or random web users; in fact, getting advice from multiple sources is better than getting it from one. Just make sure that you actually listen to the suggestions that you're given. If everyone agrees that pink text on a red background is horrible, don't argue with them.
web design atlanta
The world of web design expands by the day, and if you aren't careful, it's easy to get swept away in the tide. Use these tips to ensure that you're always on the cutting edge of technology and style.

Friday, November 11, 2016

Falling...

Sometimes I just stand and watch the leaves fall.


Yes, I'm easily entertained.

Of course, all those leaves hurling themselves from the tree to the ground mean that someone's gotta rake them up.  Jeffrey and I raked all of them into a pile before we went out on Sunday afternoon.  There were quite a few more on the ground by the time we got home, and by Monday afternoon there were almost as many on the ground as we'd already raked up.  I put all the leaves we'd raked on Sunday into the trash toters and raked up enough more to fill two of those big leaf bags on Monday afternoon.

Not that I'm complaining - it was a gorgeous and glorious day, and I was taking any excuse to be outside.  The laundry wasn't going anywhere.

Friday, November 04, 2016

Deciphering the Laundry Code

Laundry_symbols_with_japaneseHave you noticed the laundry labels on clothing lately?  Seriously, what do those cryptic symbols even mean?  It seems that nobody really knows.

On Good Morning America yesterday they put up several of those laundry symbols, and the guesses were kind of hilarious, but nobody got them right.  Are those symbols supposed to make things easier?  Or just confuse us all so we wash things wrong, ruin them, and have to buy new clothes?

Why can't they just use words?

I hate the dumbing down of everything - from laundry tags to street signs.  Are we just assuming that people can't read, but they'll be smart enough to decipher the symbols?  How's that working?  I can read, but most of those symbols make absolutely no sense to me.  If we really think that people who can't read can decipher those cryptic little symbols, why don't we just let them decipher the usual symbols - called letters.  Formed into words.

Of course, possibly it's because everything is made in China these days and it's easier just to use symbols instead of repeating the washing directions in every possible language - which could lead to some really big labels.  In the meantime, I guess we all need a little help decoding those laundry symbols.  Seriously - how many of these did you know?  Better keep the computer handy when doing laundry.  (or download the available PDF, print it out, and keep it near the washing machine)