On The Move

It’s easy to go green with organic bedding and flooring
Tips on keeping the mosquitoes at bay this summer
Home-improvement projects just got easier with these Web sites

Moving Tips and Home Decor Ideas

A cheaper way of moving and storing. Sam.

Kitchen Knowledge

Our homes are built to last a lifetime, but their parts do wear out from time to time. Take your kitchen, for example. Do you know when you’ll need to replace your refrigerator? Here’s how long some of your appliances will last, courtesy of the National Association of Home Builders:

Gas range, 15 years
Refrigerator, 13 years
Garbage disposal, 12 years
Dishwasher, 9 years
Faucet, 15 years
Electric range, 13 years

Environmental Design

The green movement has finally hit the interior decorating world. Today, many innovative designers are combining contemporary aesthetics with environmental awareness.

Consumers can now purchase organic bedding, flooring made from sustainable woods, recycled glass tiles and furniture made without any synthetic materials – and feel good about their purchases.

Potted Pleasures

Here’s something to dig into this spring and summer – container planting.

The choices are endless for combining plants and pots, and any arrangement will enhance your home’s outdoor décor, whether you add them to your front porch or backyard deck.

Mix and match plants with interesting leaves, or combine different culinary herbs in a planter near the kitchen.

An added benefit? If you want a new look, just move them around.

How Transparent

When we want to let the light in, most of us think windows. But glass blocks also provide an interesting way to add light – as well as beauty and privacy.

Builders use them to create curved walls, partitions, windows, room dividers and shower stall walls.

Check out these Web sites for do-it-yourself instructions for lightening up your home décor.

www.hgtv.com
www.ehow.com
www.diynetwork.com

All the Buzz

It’s the time of year when biting bugs can make an outdoor meal or time in the garden nothing short of miserable.

Here are some tips on how to keep mosquitoes at bay:

Look for low areas in your yard that might hold standing water, and drain or fill them.
Repair or replace torn screens in windows and doors.
Clean clogged roof gutters and downspouts on a regular basis.
Change the water in birdbaths, wading pools and outdoor pet dishes several times a week.
Encourage natural pest control by providing habitat for birds and bats.

Honey Do This, Honey Do That

Leaky faucet? Squeaky door? There’s no end to the home-improvement projects that need attention. But, there’s no reason to call in the plumber or painter when you can do it yourself. Check out these sites for inspiration:

A Green Move

More than 43 million Americans will move this year. If you’re among them, remember to watch out for Mother Earth in the process by considering these environment-friendly moving tips.

Boxes and packing supplies create a lot of extra trash. Think about purchasing rubber tubs, which can then be used to store holiday ornaments, seasonal clothing and other items you will undoubtedly collect over the years. Plan to donate the boxes you purchase to someone else after your move or ensure they go out with the recycling … not the trash.
Donate unwanted items such as stereo speakers, barbecue grills and old clothing to a local charity. And all those books would be much appreciated at your local library.
Remember the environment when disposing of hazardous materials such as car batteries, fertilizer, liquid bleach and paint thinners. Some municipalities schedule hazardous materials disposal days, and local vendors of these materials often offer disposal services for a small fee.
Try to plan your food purchases ahead of your move so that you don’t end up with a lot of perishables. Professional movers cannot move perishable items, so plan to give them to a neighbor. And if you don’t want to pack up and move dozens of canned goods and other nonperishables, donate them to a local food shelter.

Interactive

Images America

Images America

Flip through the pages of Images America, which captures the everyday beauty of our great country through the lenses of our award-winning photographers.

Virtual Magazine

Flip Through the Virtual Magazine

Now there’s another way to read American Journeys online. Using ActiveMagazine technology, you can flip through the actual pages of the magazine on your computer screen.

Vantage Point

Visit Our Photo Gallery

From California to Pennsylvania, our collection of stunning photographs showcases America in all its glory.

Tools

Book Your Move

United Van Lines
To book your move or find a local agent, visit http://www.unitedvanlines.com.

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