The Humble Ranch Home May be Making a Comeback

After World War II, the most ubiquitous style of home being built in America was the ranch. It was simple in design and cheap and quick to build, which allowed builders to fill the tremendous need for housing that was created when American GIs returned from the war and began setting up their families. Ranch homes were the primary residents for a majority of Baby Boomers in the 1950s and 60s, but as those Boomers became adults, they often looked toward other architectural styles when setting up their own households.

Over the years, the ranch style home has become almost reviled for its lack of character. Critics have said it's just a single-story box, with no uncomplicated angles, a low roof, and a picture window facing the street. Since ranches were built in such abundance in the mid-twentieth century and were often thrown up as quickly as possible without regard for decoration or individuality, they came to represent the worst of American architecture in many people's minds.

However, the humble ranch does have its boosters, who say it's actually a quite livable style of home that offers a number of advantages. It's biggest plus comes from its footprint on an average lot, which allows for a reasonably large backyard in most neighborhoods, providing a significant amount of space for swing sets, sandboxes, and other children's recreational activities. A big backyard can also be a wonderful place for adult entertaining, as well.

As home prices continue to escalate, it's entirely possible that the ranch home will begin making a comeback in America. Since they don't require unusual angles and special building materials, builders can still construct them cheaper than their more elaborate counterparts. But that doesn't mean ranch houses can't be customized to make them more interesting or energy efficient, and if sited well on a lot, a ranch home can actually seem to be rising naturally from its lot, making it quite attractive from the street.

Interestingly, it may be the same Baby Boomers for whom the ranch was originally constructed in such abundance that will drive its comeback. As Boomers age, they'll begin to appreciate having everything on one level, providing easy access to every room in the home and to the outside. Their smaller price tags will also be easier to handle on a fixed income as Boomers begin to retire. Ranch homes, being simpler, will also require less upkeep and repair than other styles of homes.

Ranch homes can be as elegant as a person's taste and budget, and the same large backyard that was good for young children can be just as wonderful for adults with the addition of a swimming pool, large garden, or other amenities. Ranches also lend themselves well to gourmet kitchens, luxurious bathrooms, large fireplaces, or any other type of room that can benefit from being larger than average.

Even though the humble ranch has been disparaged for decades, it's provided a functional home to generations of families, and may find a renewed popularity as Baby Boomers begin to enter their Golden Years.

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

Learn how to fix ranch houses for money: Jeanette Fisher, best-selling author of home staging books, offers free fixing and flipping houses ebook at http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com

It's The Baby Event Of The Year Here Are Some Thoughtful Baby Gift Ideas

When you are getting ready to attend a baby shower you need to have some good baby gifts in mind for the mother to be. Here are a few that you may not have even considered.

Baby gifts are a fun way to celebrate the arrival of a new baby.? Just finding out that a loved one is expecting a baby can make you incredibly excited.? You spend months waiting for the special bundle of joy, but if you have ever had a baby you know how much stuff is required to raise a baby.? Thankfully you can celebrate the new baby with a baby gift that is useful and cute.? Some favorite baby gifts are classified as baby care, clothing, furniture, and toys.

Baby care items can include such items as bottles, pacifiers, diaper cream, baby wash, baby powder, and baby lotion as well as diapers, wipes, towels, bathtubs, diaper pails, receiving blankets, crib sheets, blankets, mattress pads, and washcloths.? The wonderful thing about this category of gifts is that many of the items will need to be replenished so duplicate gifts are still gratefully welcomed.? The mother-to-be will appreciate these gifts for months to come.??

Another classification of baby gifts is clothing.? This is perhaps the absolute favorite gift to buy.? All baby clothes are cute because they are so tiny.? It is important to have a fair amount of clothing as most babies have at least a little spitting up and tend to get the clothes wet.? This gift generally elicits the most oohs and aahs in any gathering.?? Some clothing items include onesies or gowns, socks, shoes, shirts, shorts or skirts, bibs, hats, mittens, rompers, and booties.?

Furniture items are usually more expensive and are generally purchased by a combination of well-wishers.? A few of the basic items are a bassinet, crib, dresser, changing table, car seat, stroller, swing, exersaucer, high chair, and pack and play.? A bassinet is really only useful for the first few months because the baby will be too heavy after that.? A crib and dresser are extremely welcomed but if you are giving a hand-me-down crib make sure it falls within the safety guidelines issued by the federal government.? A car seat is the only baby item that you absolutely need because you cannot leave the hospital without it so this is a wonderful gift.? Many car seats are included in the travel systems ? stroller, car seat, and base.? So if you are giving a car seat you may wish to purchase a convertible car seat rather than an infant car seat.

Toys make great baby gifts and are fun to buy.? Some ideas in this category are play mats, rattles, keys, books, and stuffed animals.? Make sure if you are purchasing stuffed animals that they are designed for babies so they will not have parts that can come loose and choke the baby.? Some books that are available for babies are board books, vinyl books, and oisy books (these books crinkle or squeak).? Once again, make sure the books are designed specifically for babies.

The excitement of the anticipation of a new arrival cannot be matched, but every new mother loves to receive useful baby gifts to celebrate her new baby.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on baby gifts and baby blankets at http://www.funkybabygifts.com

A Toothache While Backpacking What To Do

Getting a toothache while backpacking can be more than just annoying and inconvenient. It can end a good wilderness trip. Here are some tips for preventing a toothache before you head down that trail, and for treating it if you get one anyhow.

Wilderness Dental Care

First of all, don't ever go on a long backpacking trip if you have an unresolved tooth problem, or even the hint of a toothache starting. Go to your dentist and get it taken care of. If there is lingering pain, be sure to also get a prescription pain reliever to take with you.

Have dental work done far enough in advance of your trip to be sure that it is completely done. Sometimes a high spot on a new filling will start to cause severe pain days after it is put in. Your dentist can easily solve this by grinding it down, if you are not already in the middle of the wilderness.

Avoid doing anything that can cause toothaches or other dental problems while backpacking. I have almost cracked a tooth on a hard corn nut while backpacking. I opt for corn chips now instead. Popcorn, fortunately not a common backpacking food, may be one of the worst foods for damaging teeth.

A toothbrush and floss are a good idea on any backpacking trip (floss can also be used as fish line and to tie things together if need be). If you forget a toothbrush, you can chew the end of a dogwood twig until it is brush-like, and use that. This is about long-term care, of course. What if you have a toothache that starts when you are days away from your car?

Toothache Treatment

Hopefully you at least brought aspirin with you. Tylenol #3 is even better for a severe toothache. An antiseptic containing benzocaine, applied directly to the irritated tooth and gum will temporarily relieve pain. Oil of cloves (eugenol) will also may help. Don't apply aspirin or other painkillers directly to gums, as they may burn your gum tissue.

Some toothaches do not originate in the teeth or gums, but in the sinus cavities. If your tooth pain is hard to pin down to one spot and is felt deeply, it may be a sinus infection putting pressure on the gums from above. In these cases, you may need to eliminate the infection to get relief. Use antibiotics if you are sure this is the cause. You might get temporary relief if you can clear the sinuses a bit by steaming (carefully) your face, or eating hot sauce.

If your teeth are temperature sensitive, you should obviously avoid hot and cold drinks. Warm your water bottle under your jacket if you have to. It can also help to breath through your nose. Breathing through your mouth can send cold air flowing over your teeth and cause a lot of pain.

I have a tooth problem right now - the inspiration for this article. A few days ago, I noticed that each time we drove over a mountain pass here in Colorado, the pain intensified. Coming back down below 8,000 feet seemed to always take the pain away. Watch for this problem, and you might resolve some of the pain by hiking down to a lower elevation.

Out of pain relievers? Get out your plant identification guide. Try chewing on catnip leaves for relief. You can also make tea out of the willow twigs or poplars leaf buds. These both contain varying amounts of some compounds that are similar to aspirin.

If a toothache has begun, you probably shouldn't hike any further into the wilderness. If it has become painful enough to suck the fun out of your backpacking trip, you should head for the car. It is time to see a dentist.

About the Author

Copyright Steve Gillman. Visit his website for ultralight backpacking tips, photos, gear recommendations, a free book and a new wilderness survival section:
Wilderness Survival Section : http://www.The-Ultralight-Site.com

Overseas Investment Properties ? The Golden Rule For Big Capital Gains

If you are looking at overseas investment properties you want the best possible return on your money and this means choosing the country you invest in carefully.

There is one golden rule and it?s used in every other form of investment market to make money and should be used as the first rule when buying overseas investment property.

Do it and you will increase the odds of making money on your investment.

Let?s define the rule and examine it in more detail.

Buy a Trend In Motion

What do we mean by this in terms of overseas investment property?

Quite simply it means buy a market that has a track record of growth in property prices and the trend is well supported by investment.

Buying a market with potential

For example, many people buy overseas investment properties in markets that may take off (property is at its cheapest and upside at its highest) there are new ones all the time Nicaragua, Romania etc But upside is only at its highest if they do take off and most don?t!

By all means be a pioneer if you want the highest rewards in theory but that?s theory not practice. Sure, pioneers made money but most got killed by arrows.

Buying a market on potential alone and your view that it may go up is a mugs game and in most cases will lead to losses.

Buying an established market

If you buy an established market you will have missed the initial rise in property prices but that doesn?t mean there won?t be more to come, chances are there will!

Fact is once a market takes off it sucks in money by its very nature as investors have confidence to invest.

What you are looking for in buying overseas investment property is low downside risk and lots of upside. An established market that has just taken off will give you that.

If you do the above your risk will be low and your rewards will be high.

There are several so called well established markets around the world that will return you 100% per annum with low downside risk.

Investing in overseas property can yield big returns without huge risks and you don?t need to be a pioneer to make them.

For example Costa Rica has been booming for 10 years but many investors are still doubling or tripling their money in just a year or two! so play best risk to reward to make money on overseas investment property.

FREE REPORT maximising your profits in overseas property!

Get your free report investing in property for profit and a great overseas boom market that has produced triple digit gains and will continue to do so at http://www.costaricalandlots.com

Choosing the Safest Car Seat for your Child

Choosing the safest car seat for your child will be one of the most important decisions you'll make during your lifetime. Ease of use, durability and car seat crash test ratings should all factor into your decision making process.

Infant car seats, toddler car seats, convertible car seats and child booster seats are manufactured by over twenty companies. The most popular of these companies are Britax, Peg Perego, Graco, Evenflo, BabyTrend, Safety 1st, Chicco, Compass and Cosco. Child car seat prices range from $50 to over $300 depending on the manufacturer and feature set. Keep in mind that expensive doesn't always mean better. Some of the cheaper seats perform just as well as the top models.

Let's take a look at some of the standard features found in child car seats:

* 1) 5 Point Safety Harness - This is the most secure belt system a seat can have. If the car seat you are considering does not have a 5 point safety harness, I advise you look elsewhere.

* 2) EPS Energy absorbing liner - Most new car seats come with this type of liner. Upon impact, the foam linear absorbs and distributes the energy which decreases the likelihood of seat failure.

* 3) LATCH System - LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. It's an easy and safe seat anchoring system that is built into all new automobiles.

* 4) Adjustable Seat Levels - This allows the parent to adjust the seat positioning. The seat can be set to a reclining or vertical position. Seat positioning usually depends upon the size and age of your child.

* 5) Weight Restrictions - Recommended Child Weight is usually between 5lbs and 40lbs.

* 6) Rear Facing and Forward Facing - Infant car seats are always rear facing. Convertible seats are rear and forward facing. Booster seats are always forward facing.

* 7) Removable Padded Fabric - Great feature to have! You will definitely throw the cover into the washing machine multiple times during the life of the car seat. Kids have a knack of making a mess!

Now that you understand the basic features you should be looking for in a car seat, its time to start doing your research. Remember, CHILD SAFETY comes first, so DON'T choose a seat for the way it looks! Most car seats come in multiple patterns and colors. If you can't find one that suits your needs, you can always buy a child car seat cover. One more tip, do not base your decision solely on user reviews written at sites like Amazon.com. They should be used only as a aid in your decision making process. If you're looking for crash test ratings, I suggest you use Google to search for the term Car Seat Crash Test Ratings. Good Luck and best wishes to you and your little one!

K.J. Brown is an expert article writer based out of New York City. He has written over 100 informative articles ranging from finance to child safety. To find more articles related to Child Car Seats and Child Safety, please visit http://www.bestchildboosterseat.com and http://www.boosterseatcover.com

By K.J. Brown

How to Stop Cleaning On Weekends

I used to spend my weekends cleaning house until I learned to take a few minutes here and there to stay on top of the dirt and grime. By doing a little cleaning every day, I avoid having to spend my weekends cleaning. Try some of the following ideas to help you free up your weekends.

Bathroom:

* Limit the number of products you keep on the counter. By doing this, the counters will stay uncluttered and be easier to clean. For the products that you want to leave on the counter, store them in a basket or caddy. This way you can just lift up the basket or caddy and clean underneath it in a hurry without having to pick up each individual product.

* Do you use a washcloth to clean your face? If so, when finished washing your face, rinse the washcloth out and use it to clean up around the sink.

* If you have a glass door shower, keep a squeegee stored in the shower by hanging it on a suction hanger hook. After every shower, use the squeegee to wipe away the water on the door. This will help keep your shower door clean by minimizing the amount of buildup from water and soap scum.

* Use shower gel instead of bar soap to reduce soap scum buildup. There are many wonderful shower gel products on the market for both men and women.

* To help your toilets stay clean and deodorized, place a self-cleaning toilet tablet in the bowl once a week.

* Keep cleaning supplies, including rubber gloves, under the sink in the bathroom so they are handy and within your reach when you have a few moments to clean.

Kitchen:

* Try the method I call ?clean-as-you-go-cooking?. This means to wash, dry and put away preparation dishes, bowls, and utensils while you are waiting for your meal to cook. If you use this method, then you don?t have to spend your meal time dreading the dinner dishes and pans. All that will be left to clean are a few dishes that will be a snap to throw in the dishwasher.

* Clean up drips and spills as soon as they happen so they don?t have time to dry.

* After cleaning the dishes and while your sponge is still wet, take a few moments to wipe down the countertops, stove, microwave and sink. This will help your kitchen to stay clean most of the time.

* When you open your junk drawer and discover that you have two year old coupons or a cabinet that is jumbled, stop what you?re doing and clean out the drawer or cabinet. This will help you to keep your kitchen in order and stay on top of the clutter.

* To keep your countertops tidy and easy to clean, store small appliances that you don?t use very often in cabinets.

* When frying or saut?ing food, use a splatter screen. A splatter screen will cut down on grease buildup on your stove and cabinets.

Family Zone:

* Have a dedicated area for shoes, keys, backpacks, cell phones, etc. Let all family members know where they are expected to place their belongings. For small children, make it easy for them so they get the hang of it. For my preschooler, we have a built-in shoe caddy in our laundry room with hanging pegs above. He knows to put his shoes in the caddy when he gets home from school. While he can?t reach the pegs to hang his backpack yet, he knows to place his backpack by his shoes and mommy will hang it up for him. This helps him learn to be responsible for putting away his own things.

This system also works well for hubby too! For all of you wives who have husbands that can?t ever find their keys, cell phone, and wallet ? give them a dedicated area to place these items. My husband has a dedicated drawer in the kitchen. Works great!

* Keep microfiber cloths or the famous Swiffer dusters handy and wipe away dust when you see it. It?s much easier to remove dust if you don?t let it build up. I keep a Swiffer ready to go at all times and do a quick dusting while my children are eating their lunch or I have a few minutes at some other time during the day.

* Consider using wax on wooden furniture instead of polish. Polish is known to attract dust.

* Toy clutter in my family room drives me batty! To help this problem, I purchased large baskets that compliment my home?s decor. At the end of the day my children know to pick up all toys and put them in the baskets. Do they do this without a battle? Not very often! However, my children enjoy snacks before bedtime and they don?t get their snacks until all toys are in the baskets.

These are just a few tips you can use to free up your weekends from cleaning. If you think about the moments you have here and there and what small cleaning chore you can accomplish ? you?ll find that overall your house will stay cleaner and you can free up your Saturday for family fun or go enjoy lunch and a movie with your favorite girlfriend!

Lesley Dietschy is a writer, jewelry designer, beauty editor and the founder of a network of popular websites including http://www.HomeDecorExchange.com and http://www.HomeGardenExchange.com Both of these websites feature valuable information and resources to assist you in decorating your home and garden.

For beauty tips, fashion tips, and handmade beaded bracelets, please visit: http://www.homedecorexchange.com/HDEBeautyFashionCorner.htm

Camping Backpacks

Camping backpacks store all the essential items needed for a hassle free-camping trip. Flexibility in space and equal weight distribution are the hallmarks of good camping backpacks. Most camping backpacks are light weight and reliable.

Almost all the camping backpacks have two compartments along with zippered and mesh pockets. Capacity and pack weight vary with each product. Torso range of most camping backpacks is between fourteen and twenty-four inches. Hip belt fits, compression straps, and sternum strap are also found in most camping backpacks. Removable side pockets and load-stabilizer straps are found in some models. There are both frame and frameless camping backpacks.

It is always wise to choose a camping backpack with frame. There are camping backpacks with internal frames and external frames. A modern internal-frame camping backpack is highly durable and avoids most of the problems associated with backpacks. The camping backpacks of modern day are a clever amalgamation of foam, plastic, and aluminum.

Framework, hip belt, shoulder straps, back panel, materials used, and construction are some of the elements to be carefully noted while purchasing a camping backpack. Make sure that the framework transfers weight to the hip using V-shaped stays. When the weight is transferred from the shoulder to the hip, the pack should remain flexible. A hard frame sheet strengthens the camping backpack and prevents sharp items from poking your back.

The hip belt is a crucial component in a camping backpack, as it receives all the weight. It should have enough stiffness to support the backpack without sagging. Soft hip belts wear out soon and transfer the weight to the hip. This makes walking tiresome. A hard hip belt can create bruises. Choose a hip belt that compresses slowly. It is better to avoid soft and hard belts at all places. A sweaty back is something that all campers like to avoid while using camping backpacks. Certain camping backpacks come with firm, compression-molded back panels with channels that allow airflow.

Today, several online stores offer highly efficient camping backpacks that suit all situations. Most of these sites provide reviews about the product, providing an opportunity to learn more about each product.

Camping provides detailed information on Camping, Beach Camping Parks, Camping Gear, Camping Equipment and more. Camping is affiliated with Colorado Dude Ranches.