Fabulous Custom Chotchkies for Less

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :
Make it Your Own - Paint it !

Frog Budah

Fabulous Custom Chotchkies for Less
I have said it before and I will say it again...go buy some spray paint in your favorite color. In this case I used white. I like to have a majority of white with splashes of color added. I only paid $4.99 for this Budah Frog. It made me smile, and for me that is all I need to close the sale. Now every time I look at it I smile. How nice is that especially for $4.99. I had the same experience withe the 3 sided Laughing Budah Head. I only paid .99 for it. I used a $1.99 can of white spray paint and I still have enough left over for my next project.

Before Painting

After Painting

It really helps to have a creative mind to find those Chotchkies that you can make fabulous just by giving them some love and attention. They don'y always look so great to begin with.This one was so little kid looking with funny flowers painted all over it. I saw it's beauty and new how great it could look in or house. I only paid $4.49 for this Snail.

Before Painting

After Painting

Laughing Budah Head

See how a fabulous Chotchkie can really make you eye move from one spot to another. I like having the pyramid shade with only 2 colors and something organic. All these objects are completely different but work well together because of the color and shapes.









I hope this inspires you to always be on the hunt. Whether it is at the $1 store, a yard sale  or even something you have in the Attic, you own it to yourself to MAKE IT FABULOUS. Have fun being creative..and remember it doesn't take alot of money to make it look like it did.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

The PERFECT Lawn and Organic Garden

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Sometimes We All Need A Do-Over



After the Do-Over

 The PERFECT Lawn and Organic Garden
It was 5 years ago when we moved into our house. We ended up removing several trees that were in bad shape as well making room to put in the pool. Due to the ground settling from the movement of the soil and the decaying of roots from the trees that were removed, the ground seemed to sink several inches. For the last 2 years we had snow and below freezing temperatures that took it's toll on the yard as well. This occured in both the grass areas as well as the Organic Planting beds. The planting beds run 2 sides of the yard from one end to the other. The entire yard is organic so we don't use fertilizer other than the Organic mulch. It has natural enzymes in it that will break down and enrich and feed the soil.


Lawn Before Do-Over



Lawn Before Do-Over

Not only did the soil sink, it also got taken over with weeds in areas so I decided it was time to start over from the beginning.

Lawn and Weeds Removed

Organic Planter Beds - Before

First all the grass and weeds needed to be removed with a shovel. It remove some top sol as well. This will ensure that the weeds will NOT grow back.

Marking Sprinklers

Now that we have a blank slate, it is time to rebuild. I added Enriched Top soil that is made for sod. The areas were filled so that they would be level with the top of the cement. It was recommended to plan for a 7% settling or the soil. The sprinklers were marked and the flood drains were covered so they would be easy to find and know where to cut the sod so it fits snug. The entire yard has drains that run under it both in the planting beds as well as the grassy areas to prevent flooding.

Lawn - After

Lawn - After

It feels so good to know  that the entire yard has had it's little face lift. The lawn looks great and in a month or so it will be even more lush. It just needs a to be watered.

Organic Planting Beds - After

Organic Planting Beds - After

The best thing about adding  the organic soil and mulch to the plantings beds is that it makes caring for them much easier. With an organic garden you get more birds and butterfly's and you never need to worry about your pets.


I added 4 inches of Organic soil and 2 inches Organic mulch to the planting beds.
This was alot of hard work and planning but definitely worth it. The yard won't need another Face lift like this. Not to say it won't need a little here and there, it just won't need this much work. My motto for this project is "give your yard what it needs to thrive". If you want to have a Perfect lawn and garden you might just want to start over from the bottom up so you don't need to play catch up every year. You may need to pay more to do it right but in the long run you will actually SAVE money because you won't be doing it over year after year. This project was so well worth it and makes for a not only a perfect lawn and garden but also a perfect space to relax and reconnect with nature.
I hope this inspires you to roll up your sleeves and create a QUALITY space that is all your own.

Enjoy your Zen.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Veggie Garden - Part 2

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Patience can Prove to be Bountiful

Veggie Planter

Veggie Garden - Part 2
OK it has now been 2 months since I planted my seeds. Some grow so fast while others are waiting for the heat to kick in to grow faster. Most of my garden is in my Stacked Veggie Planter. It really adds life to an other wise plain corner of my yard. I already have some veggies [just baby ones] and lots of blooms. We had a heavy rain last week that knocked off my biggest flower on my zucchini plant. If the flower gets knocked off too early a squash won't produce. It's just a part of nature.



Radish

 I have a few Radish plants that are almost at maturity and ready to harvest. Fresh veggies have so much more flavor than ones in a produce store. Here you just pick, rinse and eat. The joys of Organic Gardening. Whether you like radish or not you should still grow them. They are the fastest and easiest out of all the veggies to grow so it makes you feel super successful right off the bat.







Zucchini Squash


Both the Zucchini and Yellow squashes are doing great. I noticed there were 2 getting more water and they grew much faster. They are strong and the blooming has begun. Stuffed squash blossoms with pasta makes a great meal. Don't forget about having it grilled, fried and of course zucchini bread.
I just started more squash seeds so I will have them til October.

Add caption

My nephew started his own veggie garden with me. He is 81/2. The first plant we planted was his favorite...Green Beans. When I say this kid love green beans, I really mean he loves them. I have seen him take a bag of beans out if the freezer, put them in the microwave and eat the entire thing. I told you he loves them. Needless to say we planted allot of beans and we should have them all season long.

White Pumpkins

Doesn't it seam like you pay a small fortune every year by decorating with pumpkins. We decorate with them all the way thru Thanksgiving. This year we decided to try and grow some. They are doing really good so far. We are expecting ALLOT of pumpkins this year at NO cost. The pumpkins will be 10-12 inches in diameter and weigh 10-12 lbs. You can either carve or decorate them or even use them for pies and soups. I am so excited.

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I am so excited that my cucumbers are doing so good. They are in the bottom level of my 7 level stacked planter. They are just about big enough to start growing up the trellis. The thing I am most excited about is making my own pickles. Lets hope I get allot.







If you didn't get a chance to plant your veggie garden by seed, don't worry. Just go down to Home Depot and pick up some small starter plants and way you go. Just think of all the fresh organic veggies you will have. They make great gifts for your neighbors or give a co-worker a jar of homemade organic pickles. Very thoughtful.
I hope this inspires you to grow your own veggie garden. Just think of the money you will save as well as some peace and quiet while tending to it. Enjoy your gardening meditation with a Happy Hour Cocktail with Your Gay Husband.
Happy Gardening !
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Border Planting

Your Gay Husband Tip of The Day :

When It is Time to Change...It is Time to Change

Border Planting with Rock Garden

Border Planting
Doesn't everyone have at least one area in your yard that is difficult for one reason or another. Well I did. It is at  the bottom of a retaining wall so it is wet and get part sun so I have problems with the grass growing up along the retaining wall itself. It is near the pool so it get lots of use and is also in a high visibility area. After much thought, here is what I did...
COST - $45 for everything
TIME - 2 hours
LEVEL of DIFFICULTY - 2 on scale of 1-5 [based on number of steps]

Before

To start I needed to remove any grass or vegetation 20" from the wall. I will be planting in one portion and creating a rock garden directly next to it for drainage, not to mention aesthetic. Take your time and don't miss anything. You will be happy later when you don't have to weed.

Laying Edging

To create perfect lines as well as creating clear lines of demarcation I use a plastic item that is used to keep bricks in line when laying pavers. It is perfect for this application as well. First lay down the track on the prepared area and using 8 inch plastic spikes secure the edging. Then cut out weed fabric and lay down in section where rock garden will go. All these Items can be purchased at Home Depot.

After

When choosing your planting material make sure to consider the amount of sun, moisture and check to see what kind of maintenance they will require. Don't forget that after planting you will need to mulch. I needed plants that could be in wet or dry conditions, that will stay year after year, that will get denser but not bigger, low maintenance, and part sun. This will save you both time and money in the long run by not having to constantly buy new plants.




This area is now ready for all the pool parties and FUN for summer. Take a look at your yard and see if it is Time To Make A Change. I also stained the fence. I hope you find inspiration and add your personal touches to your own space.
Happy Gardening.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Revamping Vases for Spring

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Make Something Old New Again

Black to White

Revamping Vases for Spring
It is so much fun doing little things to make a big impact. When using vases I like to usually use only 1-2 colors and let the flowers make the statement. I am sure you have heard this before when using frames. It makes it easier to use the vases in clusters or when setting an entire room to just see a single color when it comes to your vase. Here I used white. I am a HUGE fan of using white and black and adding color from there. Right now I am doing white.
COST - under $10 [.97 plus tax for paint and the rest on pots and plants.
TIME - 20 minutes not including dry time.
Level of Difficulty - 1 on a scale of 1-5

Vases...Before

I found this long black vase at an Estate sale for $1. I just loved it...it was different then most vases I find. I love updating vintage pieces and breathing new life into them. I also painted these other vases using a white gloss spray paint for .97 at Home Depot.

Plastic Nusery Vases

Three of these are plastic pots that plants come in from the nursery. I didn't have any ceramic and they were going on the patio so I decide to paint them white. I put a glass coaster under them and mixed them with white candle holders. They look great.

Kalanchoe Plant in White Pot

It always amazes me with what you can come up with when you have a plan. My plan was to use white vases/planters this spring. From that point it all came together. Think...ReNew - ReUse - RePurpose and see what you can come up with.







I hope this inspires you to add simple affordable design to your home. Have FUN and you may just inspire your friends to do the same. Beauty is contagious.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Staining The Fence

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Patience Provides Quality Work

Finished Fence

Staining the Fence
We had a fire a while ago that burnt down our garage. It also destroyed a car, 1 20" foot section of fence and a portion of another fence. These fences were on either side of the garage. When they replaced the fence they use the same color as the Cedar on the garage. There was just a problem with this....NONE of the fences matched. We had a light Cedar, dark cedar and almost a red color they used for the smaller section of fence. We decided to stain the fence so it would all match. I needed to go with a darker stain so that it would cover the previous stains without covering the grain of the wood. I used a transparent Behr outdoor Stain that is made for fences. They also make semi transparent and and one that has total coverage. It would have been easier to not use the transparent stain but I like the look of stained wood... not stain that looks like paint. To each their own.

Before Staining

 This is the lightest fence that we had left from the fire recovery. The color is OK it just didn't match the other fences, which for me is a design no no. The fences are 8 feet high.

Removing Hardware

Before staining you will want to remove any hardware off the fence and Blue Tape any areas that are NOT fencing. The stain will bleed and can be difficult to remove once absorbed.

Staining with a Brush

I used a 1" inch brush to stain any hard to reach sections and a 3" inch brush to finish staining the inner planks. It is key that once you begin a plank that you work downward before you go onto the next section. If you let a section dry or overlap, it will cause streaking.
Take your time and you will end up with a perfect fence.

One Section at a Time

As you can see I stained the inside planks first with the brushes then I used a 4" inch roller to do the outer planks. Before you know it, you are done. Now just replace your hardware and you are ready for your first outdoor party. I saved over $800 doing it myself.







I recommend putting on some music and finding your ZEN to reach optimal results.
It is not what you do but who you are when doing it.
I hope this inspires you to add design to your surroundings and not settle for less. You deserve it.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Easter Egg Yard Art

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Decorate your Lawn for Easter

Eggcellent way to Decorate Your Yard

Easter Egg Yard Art
I love this time of year and especially Easter. It is just another great reason for friends and families to reconnect not to mention all the colorful decorations and great food. This is such an easy project and a great one to do with your kids. They can paint their own Easter Egg and save it for years to come. Memories of Easter in your childhood are so important so might as well make it memorable. You can even sign and date them.
COST - $3 I had the paint.
TIME - less than 1h hour [not including dry time]
Level of Difficulty - 2 easy put lots of parts

Egg Template

The first thing I did was to go online and print an Egg Template. Cut out the sizes you desire. I used 3 sizes. I find it gives more of a visual impact using a variety of sizes. Outline Egg on to a piece of foam core board. I buy mine at the Dollar Tree. Just $1 for a 20" by 30" foam board which is a great size. You can get at least 3 dozen egg cut outs using only 1 board. Then just cut out your outlined eggs.

Glue Skewers

Once you have your egg cut out, glue 2 skewers to the back side of each egg and let dry. You can buy these skewers at any grocery store under $3 for 100. I bought mine at the Dollar Tree for only $1. I also bought my Elmer's Glue there. That's why only $3 for this project. The skewers will easily secure the Eggs into your lawn.

Acrylic Paints

When it comes to color for this project get as creative as you want. Make them all the same color for a theme or see who can be the most creative or paint polka-dots on them. What ever you want and what ever you can think of.

Zig Zag Pattern

Have FUN being creative. I always have acrylic paints but really you can use any paint you want to. I have used house paint before or mix media like buttons or add some bling with rhinestones.

Finished Eggs

When making a design or pattern I recommend using a sharpy pen to draw on the design then paint inside the lines. It really gives it a strong look once they are in your yard.

This was a FUN project. I hope you have as much fun as I did. If you have 1 hour and $3 you have to make these eggs. Your neighbors will thank you.







Happy Easter !
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Spring Clean Pool Filter

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Upkeep Today and $ave Tomorrow

Pool Filter

Spring Clean Pool Filter
If you have a pool then you know this is a year round responsibility. Spring is a perfect time to CLEAN YOUR FILTERS. This will not only prevent a malfunction that can be costly in repairs but it will stay in good condition and run quietly. I spent $15.99 for SeaKlear Spa. This is a Filter Cleaner and Degreaser. To replace 4 filters could cost more than $500...this is why you want to maintain them. Here is what I did...

Dirty Filter

When you remove the filter it looks disgusting from all the debris and algae. By looking at this picture you would think the filters are brown....NO they are white. When cleaning your filters make sure to wear a mask and goggles and to follow all manufacture directions for safety.

Cleaning Filter

This is really pretty simple. Put your hose nozzle on a jet stream and spray it until the water runs clear and it is white. Set aside and repeat on all 4 filters.

Bagged Filters with Cleaner

After you have sprayed down the filters, pour the SeaKlear Spa Cleaner into a spray bottle and spray filter with solution [I use 1/4 per filter] and put in a large black trash bag and let set in the sun for at least 4 hours. Good time for BBQ Burgers and a Nap in the Sun. After your nap, remove the from the bags and rinse thoroughly and set aside.

Replace Clean Filters

OK now it is time to put the filters back and get it going. I tell you my pool runs so much more quietly now. This is a must..so enjoy your afternoon and GET ER DONE and relish in a job well done...like steak.
Now it's Beer Time !






Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Starting VEGGIE Seeds

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Share your seeds...you will have Tons

Everything you Need

Starting VEGGIE Seeds

I love fresh VEGGIES the best when you grow them yourself by seed. They always taste sweeter and are more intense in flavor. I just started my seeds a couple of weeks ago. I store my left over seeds in individual zip lock bags in a dry location. I will be planting more seeds later as well as giving some away to friends and family to start their own VEGGIE garden.

Preparing Empty Egg Carton

I love re-purposing things, here I use left over egg cartons. Before I add soil I make sure to cover the large holes on the Tops with paper towel. I only use 1 layer of paper towel. The egg cartons are great because they are bio degradable and can really be planted directly into the ground if you wanted too.

Time Frame and Seed Map

I can't stress it enough to make a Map of your seeds when planting. It can help to right on the egg carton top and bottom for easy reference. I have also noted  the next time I want to start more seeds. I am starting the next round 3 weeks later to ensure long production time. You can do this a few times during the growing season as long as you have enough space.

Planting Seed

Add soil that you have pre moistened to the top of the egg carton. Poke a hole about a 1/2" deep and put in 2-3 seeds and cover. I plant more than I will use for back up if for some strange reason one won't grow. This will also allow you to keep the strongest. If I need 1 I plant 2 and so on. The soil is JIFFY MIX made for Starting Seeds and it only cost $3.97 at Home Depot.

Water Seeds

 At this time you will want to water thoroughly. This sounds easier than it is. Here is the deal. The soil is VERY airy and will blow away extremely easy until wet. I use a spray bottle. It takes a little longer but I am 100% certain everything is wet and not one seed was missed. Put in a warm place. You can also lightly tent them with plastic wrap for added humidity. I have mine on top of a freezer in the garage.

4 Days Later

Here they are just 4 days later. It is NOT too late to get your garden going....so go for it.







Happy Gardening !
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband