Monthly Archives: February 2012

Summer Plans for My Grade Schooler

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Four more weeks and we are bidding the school year goodbye. As a fulltime mom and school bus of a grade schooler, I share my daughter’s giddiness over summer vacation. For two months, WE need not do home work, practice writing, do Math drills, sleep early, wake up early, deal with rude classmates and horrible traffic. For two, long months, we can just lounge around the house or go to the malls and even ride airplanes. Aaaah… I can’t wait.

What are our plans for summer? Yes, we have two out of town trips. One is scheduled stay at my parents, and the other is a family reunion and a wedding of an aunt. But prior to and in between those two, I am thinking of activities for my daughter. Since she can’t be enrolled in a summer class because of our trips, I am thinking of various activities that we can do together. Most are related to arts and crafts and the list isn’t final yet. But I will share it with you as soon as it’s done.

What about you? What are your summer plans for your grade schooler if you have one? Care to share?

Tips to Prevent Pest Infestation

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How to Prevent Pests from Invading Your Home

There are various reasons why pests invade your home. It can be the climate outside or that you have made your house a good place for them to live and survive by providing it with the basics – food, water and shelter. Here are some home pest control tips which you might find useful:

  • Begin outside of your home. Remove piles of wood, rotted stumps, logs and other debris from around your house as they are conducive for pests like termites and carpenter ants. If you are storing firewood, keep them at least 20 feet away from your house and at least five inches off the ground.

    Moreover, keep your nearby surroundings dry since most pests thrive in moist areas. Keep vegetation like trees, vines or bushes away from your house since they can trap moistures that causes rot and attract pests. Also, pests use these vegetation as a way of getting to your walls and roof from the ground. Avoid planting anything that is prone to aphids like roses close to your house. Also, make sure that there are no puddles near your house’s perimeter.

  • Seal any possible points of entry and repair damages promptly. Inspect your home for any cracks or gaps and blogs any openings. If you find any moisture damage, attend to it immediately. Make sure that your attics and craw spaces are well-ventilated and that vents are free from any debris or vegetation. Floor drains and windows must be protected by screens and always keep your doors closed.

  • Keep your house clean and control interior moisture. Seal your trash cans, sweep up your crumbs and wipe up spilled liquids right away. Repair any leaks in your sink or bath rooms and make sure you wrap any pipe that is leaking. Check too, behind and under your dishwashers and washing machines to make sure that there is no condensation or damage cause by old moisture. Fix leaky faucets too.

These are very simple and easy-to-do tips. They say that prevention is always better than cure but when a simple occasional pest intrusion goes out of control and becomes a full-blown pest invasion, you might need professional help. Check your local directory for pest control companies or search online. Many pest control companies now maintain websites where you can see the areas they provide service to, the cost of pest control that they offer and so much more. Use these facilities to help you solve your pest control problem.