Living Smart In A Not So Smart Neighborhood

Learning to live smart in a sketchy area is important. Your family and home are things you want to protect almost at all cost. There are plenty of simple things you can do to protect your livelihood and loved ones, then there are some rather expensive things. Some of these may sound like common sense others may seem as not so common, but it seems as time goes on common sense becomes less and less common.

I'll start with the simple things first and move on to the not so simple.

If you live in a sketchy area, it's simple: Don't walk alone anywhere. Sounds like common sense right? Of course we say these things and it seems like on the news every night we hear some terrible horror story about a girl who was walking home alone somewhere and something terrible happens to her. This is absolutely common sense, and I would be apt to say if you don't automatically have this instinct in you, maybe it's just the law of Natural Selection (just joking.) Don't allow your loved ones to hang out outside alone as well. It seems parents are allowing children of younger and younger ages to have liberty outside. While I'm all about trust, I'm not about unnecessary risk.

Now for the more complicated things.

Learn to defend your self. We live in an age where physical violence is looked down upon. This is a mistake. I understand there is no need for violence most of the time, however we still must be a society eager to get physical to defend our livelihood. Passivity is the biggest fault of this society. I personally took Krav Maga for a while to learn how to defend myself if the unthinkable were to happen. This is actionary. If someone where to threaten you with a knife, what would you do?

Now preventative methods.

Coupling with the common sense portion, there are some more preventative methods that may take a little more effort but will definitely be worth the investment. It's better to play it safe when it comes to loved ones than to not.

Getting a home security system for your residence is extremely important. It's a way not only to alert you but keep tabs on what happens inside your home. I lived in Ducanville, Texas for a while when I was younger. There are several home security companies in Duncanville that I saw utilized around my area. Some good friends of mine used an austin home security company that ended up alerting them and the police when someone broke in, who come to find out had a history of burglaries and he was caught that evening thanks to the system.

So there are definitely ways to protect you family and these are definitely among the smartest ones. Don't forget the common sense too.

JD Gonzales a writer for Smith monitoring. He is also an expert audio and video production specialist, designer, & content marketer. Connect with him: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, VSCO Grid, & LinkedIn.

Lighting Ideas for Your Dream Home

Home design has evolved drastically over the decades and today, fresher and more inspiring concepts have already emerged. You can style your home interiors using out-of-this-world designs without coming off as repulsively outlandish; as a matter of fact, there are now odd styles and designs that give a tasteful impression to many people. Those who would like to keep it simple, though, but want to add a twist to conventional looks may even opt to blend the old with the new. It's all just a matter of creativity and preference.
Home lighting

One of the most influential factors in the overall outcome of interior design is the lighting conditions. When aiming to produce a particular theme for your home, make sure that you take careful attention to how the lightings in the different rooms are played. Lighting does not only offer functionality and security to a home, it can also add to its aesthetic beauty as lack of it can prevent you from sticking to the theme of your dreams.

Luxurious style lighting

Who can get away from the flamboyance of elegant and elaborate pieces that command attention and represent opulence? A lot of people just love the feel of luxurious homes that easily transports them into some luxury hotel room or lobby. Lighting to get a luxurious effect is pretty easy -- just add a massive pendant light somewhere in a high traffic area of the house, say, the living room, and play with the dimmers to achieve that dramatic and warm effect.

Contemporary style lighting

While the timeless, imposing charm offered by a luxuriously designed house can rarely be resistible, there are people who prefer the minimalistic and slightly twisted concepts of contemporary design. Contemporary style lighting usually comes in eccentric shapes and sizes which typically serve as an interesting contrast to a minimalist backdrop. You can find a handful of such designs at  Interior-Deluxe.com.

European style lighting

Everybody wants to go to Europe, and some even want to bring Europe right into their very home. European style lighting -- particularly Spanish, has a charmingly rustic look about it. Colorful pendant lights in opaque tubings against a contrast of stark white and wooden details will be utterly reminiscent of your home back in Spain -- it'll seem like you never left! European-inspired lighting styles are also quite a hit these days, so you can expect many suppliers to have them in stock.

Essentials to home lighting

The thing most people might not realize about the essentials of home lighting is that it does more than merely "beautify" a piece of space; that aside from improving its aesthetic quality, lighting also has the power to uplift moods, soothe stress, and pump motivation for the people who are in such given piece of space; further implying that its insufficiency would likely result in downcast spirits, reduced productivity, and a lower sense of well-being. As such, it's important to ensure that the lighting condition in any given space is not only adequate, but is also appropriate and fitting for the purpose and function that it had been designed to serve.
Cedric Loiselle is a highly talented writer who enjoys imparting useful information about home improvement to his readers. For lighting options, he highly recommends interior-deluxe.com.

Get Rid of Ants: Effective Solutions to Ants Infestation

Have you ever wondered why ants choose to plague your home? Yours is not the only home they pick. Ants' infestation is a common problem in regular households. Ants can be uninvited guests into a house, appearing out of nowhere and during their stay they can create some serious problems.

Before you go for a pests control service to get rid of ants, it is important to understand the cause of the infestation. One of the clear reasons for ants infesting your home is sweet foods on the floors. Foods crumbs and bits of sugary foods lying on the floor of your house can entice ants to crawl into your home. It therefore becomes extremely vital for you to wipe the floor clean, in case of food spills and to store edibles in airtight containers. Be extra careful while storing sweet items such as honey, cookies and desserts, which can attract ants in hordes.

Decaying wood can also lead to ants' infestation of a different kind. Wood decaying attracts carpenter ants. Carpenter ants chew the decaying wood which turns into sawdust. This can majorly affect the structure of your house. It is advisable to replace the wood in your house at the earliest sign of decay to keep a check on the infestation. If you find carpenter ants in your home, it is time to call the pest control.

You may notice that an episode of ants' infestation often coincides with rains. This happens because the ground turns excessively moist during the rainy season, causing the ants to look for shelter on higher grounds. Your home offers a safe abode and they take refuge in it.

Ants find an entry way into your homes though crevices around the windows, walls, doors and floors. A good way of keeping ants out of your home is by sealing all cracks and crevices.

Despite all precautionary measures ants can still find their way into your home. You must know how to deal with the infestation issue, before the little creatures take over your home. There are some ingenious DIY techniques ways that can help keep the ants at bay.

Use chalk to keep ants away from your home. Chalk contains calcium carbonate which repels the ants. Scatter powdered chalk liberally around entry points of your house.

Another tried and tested method of repelling ants is by subjecting them to lemon juice. Squeeze the juice from some lemons and sprinkle it around crevices that you notice. Ants detest the smell of lemon. You can also add lemon juice in water to mop the floor.

Using cayenne pepper and black pepper is another effective method to let the ants know that they are not welcome in your homes. Pour a mix along ant holes to keep the ants away. You can also intercept ants by sprinkling salt in their paths. Other household items that you can use to deter ants from marching into your homes are cinnamon, whole cloves, vinegar, bay leaves and peppermint oil.

If these methods do not work for you, you know where to go. A pest control professional will be your best bet when it comes to ants' infestation.

Angelina Tang works at PestBusters; a pest control management services company in Singapore. PestBusters was founded on the mission that the company would set the standard for the Pest Control Industry. Established in 1991, the company quickly became one of the most trusted names in the hospitality.

HOW TO GET THE RIGHT SHEET METAL FABRICATION COMPANY FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Fabricated metal products are important in almost every manufacturing business. If you are operating or starting one, it is imperative for you to find the right sheet metal services that are capable of supporting you and boosting your productivity and output. Mentioned below are some of the pointers you should note when hiring a certain company’s services.

Know What You Need

You, as the owner, should be able to clear with what you want in order to effectively communicate to your potential manufacturer what your needs are in order to give him a clear mental picture of the product you want to achieve. The metal shop you choose should make your work more efficient, especially if they are able to provide services such as precision metal cutting, laser cutting, MIG weld, assistance in creating prototypes of your sheet metal project, and metal manufacturing with aluminum, stainless steel and sheet metal. Moreover, you will know you have scored the right company if they are keen with the minute details of your project like the outcome you want to achieve, your required amount of corrosion resistance, the weight and strength of the finished product, and how much you are willing to spend for the needed materials.

Ask for Quotes

Just like shopping for any other product or service, it is helpful for you to compare prices of similar service in different companies. Not all companies can produce equal quality products, and that is hinted or reflected by the price tag companies charge for their services.

Client Reviews

Your greatest resource to know the level of customer satisfaction you can possible expect in a company is through recommendation from others. Ask the company’s previous clients for feedback. And if you can, see for yourself the quality of the steel fabrication product straight from their facility.

Gather your Collected Information and Decide

By asking around to collect information, more or less you now have an idea which sheet metal fabrication company you should hire that matches all your needs. If you are looking for one that is reliable and reputed in the industry, visit sheetmetalfabricationdivision.com, click here for more information.

4 Tips: Decorating a Bedroom

Your bedroom should be your ultimate place of relaxation. Your bedroom should be filled with reminders of all the things you love. Your bedroom should be a place where you can completely unwind from your day and escape from reality for a little bit. In order for your bedroom to be the oasis it’s supposed to be you have to do a few things first. Here are a few ways you can achieve the perfect get away in your own bedroom.

1. Color

Color is one of the most important aspects when decorating in general. It is even more important when it comes to decorating a bedroom. The colors of a bedroom determine the entire mood of the space. To create a cozy and relaxing space your bedroom will need to be filled with warm colors. Warm colors include shades of red, pink, yellow, orange, tan, brown, crème, deep purple, navy blue, etc. If you live somewhere where you can paint the walls you can paint one of these colors and instantly create a cozy feel to the room.

2. Lighting

Lighting is another thing that can make or break the atmosphere and mood in a bedroom. Most bedrooms have overhead lighting but the problem is that overhead lighting is not cozy or romantic. Your best bet in a bedroom would be light via lamps. Another thing to consider is the type of light you want in your bedroom.  Most people prefer yellow lighting in bedrooms because it gives of a softer and more relaxed feel. White lighting most often brings a very upbeat and exciting feel to a room, which is not what most people are going for when decorating their bedroom.

3. Pictures

What fills the walls of your bedroom is probably what you will think about the most when you are in there. If you are a huge family person then having pictures of your loved ones filled with happy memories will bring peace to you in your bedroom. If you are a traveler or want to be a traveler pictures of different places around the world will inspire you. If your ultimate relaxation spot is on the beach but you don’t live close to one fill your room with pictures that remind you of the beach to help you escape there when you are stressed out. Whatever is it that brings you the most comfort; fill your walls with those things.

4. Acessories

Bring objects into your bedroom that will make you happy. If you love music and the way it makes you feel get a really nice sound system in your bedroom. If you feel comfort curled up watching a movie mount a TV on the wall of your bedroom. Every little thing that you bring into your bedroom will add to the total atmosphere of the room. Big fluffy rugs will also help bring a cozy and relaxed feel to a bedroom. You just need to find the things that you like and that make you the happiest.

After you have created your perfect bedroom the only way you are going to be able to completely relax in there is if you feel safe. A great way to accomplish the feeling of safety in your home is by purchasing a top of the line home security system. I found a company called Smith Monitoring that offers some of the absolute best features ever invented. Smith alarm systems specializes in Grapevine home security. They will install cameras in your home that can be viewed live at any time via an app on your smart phone.

About The Author: Katie Melendez is a writer for Smith Monitoring. Katie is also a wife, youth mentor, and a health nut. Follow her blogs for all  current trends on home, health, and family.