Around The Home Front
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Recycled plastics in the garden: It's all about the 'green'
Our lawns and gardens seem to be all about the “green.” We spend a lot of green on our lawns and gardens – nearly $30 billion a year. We grow a lot of greens – nearly a third of us grow food in our gardens. And many companies now make outdoor gardening products with recycled materials, such as plastics – which contribute to sustainability and make our lawns and gardens a bit greener.
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Looking for a greener way to clean your pool?
(BPT) - There’s no better way to enjoy the summer than by lounging by the pool. Unfortunately, this backyard family oasis requires regular maintenance throughout the summer that can include expensive and sometimes unhealthy chemicals. Have you ever wished there was an easier way you could clean your pool, that was also more eco-friendly?
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Tips for extending your home into your patio
(BPT) - In warmer weather, patios transform into the ultimate gathering space for backyard barbecues, reading, relaxing or even exercising. These outdoor rooms become an extension of the house, seamlessly merging the outdoors inside and vice versa.
Real Estate
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Curb appeal tips to transform your home
Brandpoint
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Go-big upgrades that can help a linge...
Brandpoint
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Dress your home to impress buyers thi...
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- Tips for Choosing Carpeting for Your Home
- Updated: May 09, 2013 - 4:33 am
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(StatePoint) Is updating your flooring on your home improvement to-do list this season? From color to style to performance, there’s a lot to consider. Learn how to find flooring that fits your lifestyle and reflects your family’s personality.
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- Protecting and prolonging the life of your leather investment
- Updated: May 03, 2013 - 4:34 am
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Mother Nature isn’t always kind to your leather goods. Dirt, salt, dry air and other harsh winter elements can damage leather if they’re left to set in for months on end. Summer days mean more exposure to damaging UV rays, so it’s important to protect all leather, including car seats, from the harsh rays of the summer sun. Leather items are assumed to be durable and thus overlooked during spring cleaning, but without proper care, leather can become faded, cracked or dried out and even too stiff to wear.
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- Inspiring ideas for a home makeover
- Updated: February 07, 2013 - 4:32 am
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With spring just around the corner, it’s time to focus on sprucing up your home. But balancing a budget and your home improvement desires can be a challenge. Some simple tips and tricks can help you make over your home for less.
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- The busy person's guide for entertaining on short notice
- Updated: January 16, 2013 - 4:38 am
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(BPT) - Ideally, you’ll have a few days notice to get everything in order when you’re hosting guests. But everyone knows that’s not always the case. Drop-ins happen and you can make a choice between panicking or embracing the spontaneity of a last-minute get-together with your friends and family. The key to being an unflappable host is having a simple process to get your home guest-ready in a hurry.
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- Tips for Making Your Home Cozier this Winter
- Updated: December 19, 2012 - 4:43 am
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(StatePoint) Your house is a refuge from the outside world, and in the cooler months, there's nothing more comforting than coming in from the brisk air to an inviting home.
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- Ways to Make Your Home Festive this Season
- Updated: December 19, 2012 - 4:43 am
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(StatePoint) Though one of the best parts of winter is getting out of the cool, crisp air and into the cozy, comfort of your home, trendsetting crafters are bringing the beauty of nature inside their houses when decorating for the holidays this year.
“This holiday season, the outdoors are in,” says Nicole Long, Manager of Inspiration for Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores. “Pine cones, evergreen, moss and grapevine can give your traditional décor a rustic, natural look.”
If you’re having trouble getting inspired, here are some ideas from the experts at Jo-Ann:
• Dress up the entrance of your home with an especially festive look. Wire a small twig wreath to a larger grapevine wreath and then decorate with dazzling embellishments, stems and greenery.
• Give your mantel a cozy makeover by hanging knitted stockings, embellished with berries and leaves. Then fill them with gifts galore!
• Deck the halls with pictures of loved ones and celebrations past. Turn a traditional pine garland of berries and pine cones into a personal keepsake of fond memories by adding handcrafted wire frames of your favorite family photos.
• Paint pine cones red, gold, burgundy and green. Don’t be afraid to add a little glitz with a coat of clear glitter on each one. Showcase them in a simple glass container for a beautiful centerpiece or side table decoration.
• Fashion a hanging basket out of grapevine wreath. Place battery-operated lights within the basket and fill with ornaments.
• For a delicious holiday goodie bag, dip peppermint sticks in melted chocolate and decorate with sprinkles or chopped nuts. Place them in treat bags with ribbon then give to family and friends throughout the season.
• Print Victorian-era designs onto paper, then decoupage onto wood shapes. Glitter the edges and tie on a shiny ribbon to create a lovely, vintage-inspired ornament.
For more tips and directions on transforming your home for the holiday season, visit www.JoAnn.com/projects.
By bringing a bit of nature into your home this season, you can evoke its spirit all throughout the house.
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- How to Deck Your Holiday Halls with Fresh, Festive Flowers
- Updated: December 19, 2012 - 4:43 am
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(StatePoint) While Mother Nature may do the work of creating an outdoor winter wonderland this holiday season, the inside of your home is up to you. Don’t stress, decorating your home with holiday flowers and plants can be a fun and easy way to create your very own enchanting holiday atmosphere.
Here are five top holiday decorating tips that will bring some festive floral flair to your home this season:
• Expecting houseguests? Decorate all of the rooms in your home with a few simple touches to create a cozy holiday sanctuary for you and your loved ones. Florals are the perfect way to welcome your guests. Place small vases of fresh flowers in bedrooms and bathrooms. Just a few blooms will do the trick and the thoughtful gesture won’t go unnoticed.
• Adorning each of your holiday dining tables with a festive theme will make the delicious experience even more delightful. For a formal holiday dinner, a traditional centerpiece makes a statement of elegance. Teleflora, a nationwide floral retailer, is a popular source for artfully arranged holiday centerpieces. Their vintage-style Silver Glow Centerpiece, which features a stylish mercury glass hurricane nestled in a bed of Christmas greens and red roses, will light up your holiday table. Add an extra special touch by tying your linen napkins with silver ribbon.
Don’t forget to top the children’s table with something whimsical and sweet, such as the Teleflora’s red and white striped Peppermint Christmas Bouquet. Add candy canes to the table place settings and no one will mind sitting at the kids’ table this year. More information and great decorating ideas can be found at www.Teleflora.com.
• When choosing holiday florals and decorative accents, experiment with color palettes. Add some unexpected color to traditional holiday hues of red, green, gold and silver. Lime or chartreuse combined with reds and greens will give your décor a modern twist. For a rich, upscale look, add shades of plum and aubergine to traditional burgundy and gold decor.
• Bring new life, color and fragrance to artificial green garlands, wreaths, and boughs from years past. Mixing your artificial elements with fresh stems like heather, magnolia and seeded eucalyptus will enhance the look of your décor and create a fragrant holiday scent that will evoke memories of merry times.
• Create your own special holiday decorating traditions. Save your favorite bowls, vases and keepsakes from your floral arrangements and fill them with ornaments, candy or other festive goodies. Teleflora offers an extensive array of collectible floral containers that can be cherished and enjoyed for holidays to come.
This season, use holiday flowers and plants to fill your home with warmth and a festive spirit that will make your guests want to return every year.
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- “Grape” Ideas For More Healthful Eating
- Updated: May 16, 2013 - 4:33 am
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(NAPSI)—A delightful way to enjoy wholesome eating can start with your packing your plate with produce, including a dynamite little fruit—the Concord grape. Concord grapes are bold in taste and pack quite a nutritious punch. They can be enjoyed as 100% grape juice or in simple, healthy and flavor-packed recipes.
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- Here's To Clean Water--How To Help Safeguard Against Drinking Water Contaminants
- Updated: May 16, 2013 - 4:33 am
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(NAPSI)—You may have heard that drinking 8-ounce glasses of water a day is good for your health. But what if the water you’re drinking isn’t as good for you as you think—due to drinking water contaminants?
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- Texas Teen Named Two-Time National Tractor Restoration Champion
- Updated: May 16, 2013 - 4:33 am
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(NAPSI)—As a young child, Ryan Haass spent much of his time on a tractor in Devine, Texas. The Haass family heritage revolves around farming and tractor restoration. When Ryan was 10, the Texas drought was so bad that his family retired its tractors and turned to cattle ranching. With idle tractors around the farm, Ryan’s older siblings, Randolph and Amie, discovered an interest in restoration and began participating in competitions.
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- Water Testing Helps Ensure Better Water For Homeowners
- Updated: May 11, 2013 - 4:33 am
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(NAPSI)—Homeowners use water for many purposes, including drinking, cooking, washing, heating, humidifying, flushing (the No. 1 use of water in a home) and their pets. Those are just a few reasons homeowners should make sure they understand what’s in their water.
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- Easy Ways to Save Energy at Home
- Updated: May 09, 2013 - 4:33 am
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(StatePoint) Whether you are motivated to help the planet or simply want to slash home energy and water bills, there are easy steps to reduce your home’s carbon footprint.
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- Tips to Reduce Paper Waste this Earth Day
- Updated: April 19, 2013 - 4:34 am
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(StatePoint) Want to go green this Earth Day? One great area to focus on this year is reducing, reusing and recycling the paper waste you generate.
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- Tips to Reduce Paper Waste
- Updated: April 24, 2013 - 4:33 am
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(StatePoint) Want to go green? One great area to focus on this year is reducing, reusing and recycling the paper waste you generate.
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- Spruce Up Your System And Save While You Sprinkle
- Updated: April 19, 2013 - 4:33 am
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(NAPSI)—Spring may have sprung, but is your sprinkler ready? Before you ramp up your watering this season, it might be time to spruce up your sprinklers to stop wasting water, save money, and promote a healthy lawn or garden.
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- Creating Worth From Waste
- Updated: April 19, 2013 - 4:34 am
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(NAPSI)Theres genuine excitement in rural America about what to many may seem a surprising subject: livestock manure. Thats because farmers can get improved nutrient efficiency from it as a natural fertilizer source, the animal waste is easier to handle and apply, and some of the odors associated with release of ammonia gas are being reducedall thanks to some recent technology available to livestock producers.
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- You Can Help Millions Of People Solve Their Water Problem
- Updated: April 19, 2013 - 4:34 am
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(NAPSI)—Take a moment to reflect on how easily you access water every day: From just grabbing a bottle of water to throwing their clothes in the wash, most Americans take it for granted that water’s there for all their needs.
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- Recycled plastics in the garden: It's all about the 'green'
- Updated: May 24, 2013 - 4:33 am
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Our lawns and gardens seem to be all about the “green.” We spend a lot of green on our lawns and gardens – nearly $30 billion a year. We grow a lot of greens – nearly a third of us grow food in our gardens. And many companies now make outdoor gardening products with recycled materials, such as plastics – which contribute to sustainability and make our lawns and gardens a bit greener.
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- Looking for a greener way to clean your pool?
- Updated: May 25, 2013 - 4:32 am
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(BPT) - There’s no better way to enjoy the summer than by lounging by the pool. Unfortunately, this backyard family oasis requires regular maintenance throughout the summer that can include expensive and sometimes unhealthy chemicals. Have you ever wished there was an easier way you could clean your pool, that was also more eco-friendly?
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- Tips for extending your home into your patio
- Updated: May 25, 2013 - 4:32 am
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(BPT) - In warmer weather, patios transform into the ultimate gathering space for backyard barbecues, reading, relaxing or even exercising. These outdoor rooms become an extension of the house, seamlessly merging the outdoors inside and vice versa.
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- Surprising ways hot tubs heat up relationships
- Updated: May 22, 2013 - 4:32 am
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(BPT) - On average, working adults spend less than an hour per day socializing and relaxing, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s American Time Use Survey. Yet a host of research – and common sense – tells us that spending time together in a social, relaxing way is essential to building and maintaining healthy relationships.
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- Soup Up Your Yard With Homegrown Superfruits
- Updated: May 11, 2013 - 4:34 am
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(NAPSI)—Superfruits—fruits that are exceptionally rich in vitamins and antioxidants—are popular ingredients in a variety of healthy foods.
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- Enhance your outdoor space with an outdoor fireplace
- Updated: May 16, 2013 - 4:33 am
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(BPT) - Winter lingered far too long this year. It was cold, it was blustery, and many of us were left wondering if it would ever end. Now summer is here - and it’s time to get outdoors.
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- Simple ways to save water, money and your landscaping this summer
- Updated: May 15, 2013 - 4:32 am
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(BPT) - With many states facing drought this summer, homeowners across the country will be looking for ways to save their landscaping while conserving water at the same time. Even if you’re not in a drought-affected area, it pays to keep conservation in mind when it comes to watering outdoors. Using less water is good for the environment and your wallet.
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- Summer garden glory without the weeding and watering
- Updated: May 14, 2013 - 4:33 am
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(BPT) - Summer can be tough on gardens. In what should be their glory days, many gardens suffer from neglect. Long weekends and summer vacations leave yards untended, while summer heat is an excuse for putting off chores. But it doesn’t have to be that way. It’s possible to have both a glorious well-maintained garden and time for fun in the sun by taking some smart gardening steps now.
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- Easy tips for a manicured lawn
- Updated: May 13, 2013 - 4:33 am
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(BPT) - The days are getting longer, the grass is growing and yard work season has begun. Many homeowners strive to have the best lawn in the neighborhood, but the task ahead can often feel daunting and time-consuming.
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- Serve up an ideal space for summer outdoor entertaining
- Updated: May 13, 2013 - 4:33 am
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(BPT) - The arrival of milder temperatures means dining al fresco, hosting neighborhood cookouts and enjoying intimate cocktail parties under the stars. When creating a backyard oasis to entertain family and friends this summer, it’s important that it be both inviting and able to withstand the wear and tear that goes hand-in-hand with warm weather fun.
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- Eight easy ways to organize - and maximize - a small bath
- Updated: May 24, 2013 - 4:33 am
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(BPT) - The bath serves a variety of uses, from a functional room to a serene sanctuary, a storage facility to a salon. And, whether you enjoy it yourself or share with the family, every bathroom is in need of one major thing – organization. To help keep your bath feeling more serene and less insane, follow these eight ideas to help improve your organization, maximize space and even add a bit of style.
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- Home chefs use new technology to cook with ease
- Updated: May 23, 2013 - 4:32 am
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(BPT) - Home cooks are spending more time in their own kitchens and less time dining out, according to the January Monthly Measuring Cup Trend Report. Nearly half of surveyed consumers said they’re dining out less this year than they did in 2012 and are relying more on their cooking skills at home. Fortunately, technology makes it easier than ever for home chefs to prep and cook meals at home and clean up conveniently and efficiently afterward.
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- Wall-mounted sliding door 'reflects' a genius design solution
- Updated: May 21, 2013 - 4:32 am
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(BPT) - Like many couples who share a bathroom, one Arizona couple was frustrated by the space that was compromised by a swinging bathroom door. The open door swung into the bathroom vanity and took up too much space in a very traditional bathroom.
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- DIY tricks that make bathroom renovations easy
- Updated: May 21, 2013 - 4:32 am
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(BPT) - When it comes to home improvement, Americans have embraced doing it themselves – in a big way. Among homeowners who plan to make improvements, 64 percent say they will do it themselves, according to American Express’ Consumer Spending and Saving Report. Yet one area of home improvement continues to give even adventurous and confident DIYers pause – bathroom renovation.
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- Five tips for kitchen redos
- Updated: May 16, 2013 - 4:33 am
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(BPT) - Feel the need to renovate? If so, you’re not alone. Fifty-three percent of homeowners believe that now is a good time to remodel, according to a recent survey by Houzz.com. When deciding on where the makeover begins, look no farther than the kitchen. Kitchens are a major selling point for homebuyers, so a kitchen remodel is good for the home-selling price. Even if you have no plans to move, the kitchen gets more traffic than any other area of a home and serves as the family hub, so it deserves the attention. To ensure a successful project, keep in mind these kitchen-remodeling tips:
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- A small investment returns a safer and healthier home
- Updated: May 03, 2013 - 4:34 am
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(BPT) - Warm weather is here, which means many homeowners are beginning new DIY projects. Have you included home safety on your list?
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- Upcycling: Breathe new life into decor with a dash of DIY inspiration
- Updated: April 26, 2013 - 4:33 am
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(BPT) - If you’ve ever looked around your house and gotten the urge to purge, you might consider pausing and first thinking about how you could transform that old, damaged piece of furniture or outdated light fixture into a fresh-faced showpiece for your home.
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- Fast and fabulous fixes to banish a boring bath
- Updated: April 23, 2013 - 4:33 am
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(BPT) - The best bathrooms are more than just functional areas – they’re sanctuaries where you can escape, reset and recharge. And as one of the smallest and most-used rooms in the home, that’s likely why they’ve become the most popular remodeling project (78 percent), according to the National Association of Home Builders.
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- Couples who design together, stay together
- Updated: April 22, 2013 - 4:33 am
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(BPT) - Opposites attract, and for couples who live together, compromising on personal style and design choices can be a difficult bridge to cross. Someone who wants a modern, contemporary vibe might not like the decor choice of someone who prefers a more traditional or rustic feel. What most people don’t realize, however, is that blending two opposing tastes can actually be more visually appealing than sticking with just one design style. And, more importantly, it can be done quickly and affordably.
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- Practice water conservation at home
- Updated: April 16, 2013 - 4:32 am
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(BPT) - Home is the place a person can always escape for some rest and relaxation. This year, celebrate Earth Day by upgrading your home to be a place that also helps you conserve water and be a better environmental steward.
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