Quiet As A Mouse

You just finished moving into the quaint old house of your dreams. You've been unpacking and cleaning all day and you are exhausted. Falling into bed and trying to sleep is impossible. You keep hearing this scratching noise. You get up to investigate, but don't find anything. You get back in bed and just when you are dozing off into a peaceful slumber, there it is again! This time you mean business! You start digging through your cabinets looking for anything that will stop the critter in it's tracks, but as luck would have it, that's one thing you didn't pack. The only thing you can do to drown out the noise is turn the TV on and hope you can sleep. The first thing on your list the next morning is "pest control"! Instead of paying a professional to do the job, you get on the internet and look up your favorite website, Hipps Help, and find that there are many ways to just do it yourself. Take a look at the link below to see what you can do to rid your home of pests yourself!
  


http://hippshelp.com/how-to-get-rid-of-mice/

Turn Something Old Into Something New

Have you ever wanted a part of your house or something in your house to have character and not just be a cookie cutter perfect house? Sometimes it is fun and looks really decorative to turn something that may be a piece that you bought in an antique store or something that has been in the family for many years into a new purposeful item in your newer house. You can do this in your kitchen by turning older kitchen cabinets into a kitchen island. It has many advantages. Besides creating extra cabinet space and work space, it can be a conversation piece and a way to keep something that you might want to replace, but not totally get rid of. With as little time as just a weekend, you can do this yourself. Take a look at the link below to see what materials you will need and how to do it.




http://hippshelp.com/how-to-convert-a-kitchen-cabinet-into-a-kitchen-island/

Give Me A Little Sugar.....Or Maybe Not!

Almost everybody loves something sweet. A dessert after meals. A soft drink. Cookies. Candy. Every bit of it has sugar. Sugar is a boost of energy and keeps hunger at bay for a little while, but sugar can also cause a lot of problems. Weight gain, diabetes, cavities...the list goes on, and with all of those health issues a lot of money is spent for diagnosis and treatment. Also, eating foods that are loaded with sugars will just keep you from eating other healthier foods that will be good for your body in others ways, so if you are eating things with sugar, then you are just depriving yourself of all the vitamins and minerals you could be getting from things like fruit and vegetables. For more information on this topic and how you can start eating less sugar, please take a look at the link below to show you how to do this.


http://hippshelp.com/how-to-lower-your-sugar-intake/

Self Made Natural Pool

There is nothing more attractive and inviting than a pool in your own back yard. The only thing about a pool that may not be attractive is the price! Well, here is a way that you can have your pool for only a fraction of the cost and it is actually more environmentally friendly than the traditional swimming pool. It will be the focal point of your whole yard and will also be environmentally friendly as well as a great investment for entertainment purposes. Best of all, you can build it yourself! With a short list of materials and about seven steps, you will have you own natural pool in your backyard.



http://hippshelp.com/how-to-make-a-natural-swimming-pool/

Swag or Sag?

The garage door is often at the front of your house and a main entranceway. It can easily be seen from the curb of your street and can add to the attractiveness of your property or it can take away from it. The garage is also plays a factor in the security of your house. If the door itself or the wood frame around the door is rotting, thieves could find a way into your garage more easily. Rodents and insects could make their way into your house as well, plus the temperature of your garage could be compromised and this in turn could change the temperature of  the rooms around and above your garage. You should consider this and check to make sure the wood frame around the garage door is still intact and that the concrete below it is not crumbling. Despite sounding like a complicated fix, these are still some things that anyone can learn to do. Take a look at the link below to see how to make sure your garage is in tip top shape.



http://hippshelp.com/how-to-fix-a-sagging-header-on-a-garage-door/

Removing Carpet Indentations

We all like to get new things from time to time or we like to change our surroundings so that we don't see the same old things every day, year after year. You might also be doing a professional make over on someone's home and have a budget to follow and run into this problem. If you have ever rearranged the furniture in your house or someone else's or replaced old furniture with new items, then you will know what I'm talking about. Your carpet or rug can have indentations that show exactly where your old furniture was. This can be annoying and look bad, but you may not have the funds to go buy a new carpet and the good news is it can be corrected. With just a few materials and the right way to do it, the indentions will begin to blend back into their normal shape again. Take a look at the link below to see what materials you will need and the proper way to get rid of those indentations.



http://hippshelp.com/how-to-repair-rug-indentations/

I Need A Vacation!

It is that time of year again. Time to plan your beach vacation! And despite all of the times you have gone to the beach, you will always forget something, so it is essential to make a list of everything you will need. Each person’s list will vary somewhat, but there are a few things on the main list that everyone will use. Make it a fun family night of sitting down and sharing each list with everyone, that way it might jog your memory of something else you should include. Also, besides the list of what to take with you, you should also make a list of last minute things you should do before leaving your house, such as arming your security system, having the post office to hold all of your mail, and making sure that someone you know and trust knows where you are going, the route you’ll be taking, and has your contact information. Also, make sure you have made your reservations to the hotel you will be staying at and it doesn’t always hurt to confirm them before you get there. With all of these preparations taken care of, the day you leave should be less of a hassle.  To get a more complete list of things you need to take with you, check out the link below.

http://hippshelp.com/how-to-pack-for-a-beach-vacation/

Time To Bar-B-Que!

With the warmer temperatures on the way, not only is it time for DIY projects around the house, but it's also time to Bar-B-Q! Maybe you have a family get together at your house or you are going to Bar-B-Que at your child's school function. Whatever the reason is, you need to get prepared. Being the grill master is no job to be taken lightly and once you have the title, if your food is good, you usually keep it! The kids have asked for Bar-B-Que chicken this time and although it's not hard to cook, it does take longer than grilling burgers. And if it is still just a little cool out or raining, that is fine, because this chicken recipe is baked in the oven. Take a look at the link below to see how easy it is to whip up this meal. With four easy steps and a few items from the grocery store, you'll be Bar-B-Qing in no time...don't forget the chicken!



http://hippshelp.com/how-to-make-barbeque-chicken/

Making Spring Repairs To Your Stoop

The wild winds of winter are gone with the snow and ice and what is left may be a mess. Moisture in the wood surfaces and any cement or brick surfaces will freeze and make cracks appear and eventually chunks of material break off of your house, which will interfere with the integrity of your home. This could cause air to be able to get in or more moisture which will create more damage and even possibly mold. It will cause a decrease in the value of your home and will make it less attractive. Now that spring is here, you can start making the much needed repairs and make your house look great. With some basic materials and six easy steps you will have it done. Check out the link below for directions how to repair it.



http://hippshelp.com/how-to-repair-a-brick-stoop/

Think You Can Can Fruit? Yes You Can!

Summer is only a few months away. Time to start thinking and planning what types of snacks you would like to put back for those cold winter months or maybe if you are a zombie fighting, post apocalyptic survivalist type who just wants to be prepared for anything! Whatever the case may be, you can have delicious fruit to tide you over during those times. With just a few items and seven easy steps, you will be able to enjoy fruits such as peaches, pears, strawberries, blueberries, and more. Preserve them to just eat right out of the jar or to use for cobblers or pie fillings. Take a look at the link below to see how to can your own fruits. You will be a hit with your family and friends during the cold winter months or a hit in your survivalist camp with your Dutch oven cobbler baked over your campfire!



http://hippshelp.com/how-to-can-summer-fruit/

Some Like It Hot!

For some people, heat is like an addiction. The warmer they can get the better. Especially if they have just been chilled to the bone, or for some, if they just simply have gotten out of the shower. Yes they can have a heating vent in the floor blowing warm air and have their thermostat cranked up, but this is just not enough! One of the best ways to get this kind of warm, toasty heat is to install a heat lamp in the ceiling of the bathroom. Not only will it make them warm, it will also give them light. Installing a heat lamp is easy to do. With only ten simple steps and a few materials a cold bathroom can become one of the most coveted rooms in the house, so much so that a TV and recliner may be added later!  Take a look at the link below to see how to install a heat lamp in the bathroom.






http://hippshelp.com/how-to-install-a-heat-lamp-in-the-ceiling/

Mouse Under The House

With the cold temperatures that we've had all over the United States and with a lot of the winter months left to come, a lot of critters are looking for some place warm to curl up and take a nap and keep warm for the winter season. If there is any type of hole that they can crawl through they will do it and if the hole isn't quite big enough, then they may do more damage to make it bigger. This could lead to extra added expenses for you in having to repair the damage and possibly a costly electricity or gas bill before you find out where all of the cold air is coming from. With just a few materials and ten simple steps, you can keep unwanted animals from getting under your deck. Check out the link below to see how to do this.



http://hippshelp.com/how-to-keep-unwanted-critters-from-living-under-the-deck/